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San Jose Del Cabo, mystery bird (1 Viewer)

SeanKP

Fledgling
Hi all

I've just got back from Mexico and am struggling to ID a bird I came across at the Estuary near to the Intercontinental Hotel just outside San Jose Del Cabo. The bird in question was about 8 inches in length (at a very rough guess), had a pale green head with a distinctive orange spot on its cheek. It was predominantly grey on its body and I think had lighter, possibly white undersides. It had a thick, hooked bill and was seemingly feeding on grass seeds. It was so distinctive looking that I thought it would be relatively easy to ID but so far I've not come across anything remotely like it in my literature.

I do have some pics somewhere but they are buried deep amongst the many thousands I took on the trip and anyway, where would the fun be in that!

Hopefully, someone can point me in the right direction.

Many thanks.

Sean
 
The green head throws me a bit, if it was yellowish or grayish, it could have been an escaped cockatiel. People breed them to have all kinds of plumage other than'normal' or natural. Orange spots on the cheeks is usual. EDIT: Some breeders breed out the yellow head and if it was gray-yellow, it may look green at a distance.
 
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Cockatiel it is. The head definitely looked light green but it was seen in fairly dense shade which could have made yellow appear green. Thank you.

Sean

Peregrinator said:
The green head throws me a bit, if it was yellowish or grayish, it could have been an escaped cockatiel. People breed them to have all kinds of plumage other than'normal' or natural. Orange spots on the cheeks is usual. EDIT: Some breeders breed out the yellow head and if it was gray-yellow, it may look green at a distance.
 
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