Diane Korolog sent me this photograph of a baby bird. Can you guess what species this is? Here are some hints:
Bonus points for the exact species!
(photo by Diane Korolog)
Marcy sent me several mystery birds. Here’s one that’s been a regular visitor to her feeders during the month of July.
Do you know what bird this is? Here are some hints:
What do you think?
(photo by Marcy Cunkelman)
I know of four birds whose name begins with “house.” This house finch is one of them.
Common at backyard bird feeders, the house finch didn’t live east of the Rockies until the illegal pet trade tried to sell them as “Hollywood finches” in 1940 in New York. Just as the law was about to catch up with them, the traders released the birds on Long Island. The “evidence” was gone but not forgotten. The house finches set up housekeeping in the east and slowly expanded north, south and west. They’ve now met their western relatives mid-continent and are found across the U.S.
House finches prefer edges, not too open, not too forested. In the east they live in cities and suburbs and since they’re one of the few birds who feed their young only vegetables — not even insects — bird feeders are important to them.
House finches resemble purple finches but are easy to tell apart if you know two things. First, house finches are far more common near houses and feeders than the purple finch and, second, house finches have brown stripes on their flanks where purple finches have rosy stripes. See how the stripes on this bird’s flanks are brown? That’s how you know. (Click here for an illustration that shows both birds; it’s a big photo so you’ll have to scroll.)
When a bird has “house” in its name that usually means it nests in a hole but house finches don’t always do that. Their main site criteria is that the nest have an overhang. It may be they got the name “house” because the other finches won’t use holes at all.
Can you name three more birds whose names begin with “house?” Here are some hints:
(photo by Marcy Cunkelman)
Another mystery bird in a real life setting. Just like real life this bird is far away and slightly backlit.
How to identify it? Here are some things to notice:
Any ideas on this one? Can you tell it’s sex or age?
Let me know.
(photo by Marcy Cunkelman)
p.s. The apparent dent in its chest is not significant for identification but it’s interesting.
I have a couple of mystery birds up my sleeve. Here’s the second one.
Keep in mind that it’s harder to identify a bird from a still photograph than it is when you see it move. Behavior, posture and eating habits are huge clues to a bird’s identity.
However, this bird has several characteristics that help identify it. Notice…
What species do you think this is? Can you tell anything about its age and sex?
Let me know.
(photo by Marcy Cunkelman)
What bird is this?
Drab gray with a plain head and chest, a dark stripey back and almost plain wings, he’s not in my field guide.
His large bill and upright, legless stance give me a hint but the real clue is to watch his behavior.
This bird is noisy and rarely alone. He chases and begs from red-bellied woodpeckers. He doesn’t have red on his head because he’s a baby — a fledgling red-bellied woodpecker.
He’s not a new species, but he is a “new” bird.
(photo by Marcy Cunkelman)