Question: The Yellow-tailed Thornbill in New York? (1 Viewer)

I observed a bird similar in size, color, and behavior that when researching looks just like
the Yellow-tailed Thornbill, who is native to Australia.
So since I hope it is not the Yellow-tailed Thornbill, because they should not be here I would
like to know what it is. Sadly no photos as I was afraid to scare them off when fetching it.

• Head: Dusty dark brown
• Wings: Dusty dark brown with one, maybe two strips grey/white in color
• Under Belly: Light grey
• Tail: Dusty dark brown with a set of bright yellow (fins?)
• Size: Small, tiny, adorable
• Song: Short bursts separated by a pause
• Behavior: Jumping from one open branch to another until it's friend came along,
to which they both made short burst tweets and hopped around each other.
The the original one made a display by scrunching in
towards it self and fanning out it's wings. They were very quick when moving, singing, flying.
• Time: September afternoon
• Where: Long Island New York (Northeast America)

Welcome to BirdForum. Your bird is most likely a Yellow-rumped Warbler. These are quite variable in appearance but always have a square yellow patch at the base of the tail. They're quite a likely bird to find in your area. Another possibility would be a female/ immature American Redstart, which has two yellow patches at the base of the tail, one on either side.

American Redstart? Check with the link:

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/files/pictures/American_Redstart2.JPG

Hello Piucca,

Agree that it is likely some species of new world warbler. Exactly where on tail the yellow is, would be helpful to know - perhaps you could better describe what you mean by 'fins' of yellow.

Peter C.

I drew what the tails looked like.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g90/Piucca303/Untitled-1_zpsa061e146.png

American Redstart is so very similar.
But from what I had seen the yellow went all the way to the tip.
Thank you all so very much.

I'll stick to it was an American Redstart

Piucca said:

American Redstart is so very similar.
But from what I had seen the yellow went all the way to the tip.
Thank you all so very much.

I'll stick to it was an American Redstart

Click to expand...

Yes, if it was flashing yellow by opening its tail, then American Redstart would probably be your bird.

You may have been given the impression that the yellow went farther than it did, because the colour is so startling a contrast to the rest of the tail.