USA, New York: which songbird? (1 Viewer)

Fwin71

Active member

• Oct 2, 2014

• #1

Bird seen on the 10th August 2014 while driving back to New York
In: New York state
In: a suburban habitat (residential area).

I have my idea about the species and I already asked US birders, but I don't mind one more confirmation. I don't want to influence anybody and will keep the species secret.

Thank you in advance!

 

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Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Oct 2, 2014

• #2

Brown-headed Cowbird

 

Fwin71

Active member

• Oct 2, 2014

• #3

No, for sure not a brown-headed cowbird. Smaller and too many distinctive features

 

K

Kratter

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2014

• #4

Brown-headed Cowbird indeed! It is a juvenile, so the plumage looks "spotted". Not many other species has a thick all black bill. The feet are also very heavy, indicating a ground foraging icterid.
Note, this time of year BHCO is one he most frequent birds to show up on this forum.

Andy

 

Peter C.

...just zis guy, you know?

• Oct 2, 2014

• #5

Fwin71 said:

No, for sure not a brown-headed cowbird. Smaller and too many distinctive features

Click to expand...

Really? The pictured bird looks just fine for young Brown-headed Cowbird for me - a bird noted for its lack of distinctive features. |:||

I'm now very curious about what your initial suspected ID was - very few eastern North American birds with that bill shape.

Cheers,
Peter

 

Fwin71

Active member

• Oct 2, 2014

• #6

Alright! Cheers to both of you! Maybe I'll wait for a third opinion, but I looked at pictures and juvenile BHCO looks quite convincing.
Two US birders told me at the last ornithological congress that it was a house finch...

 

K

KyleM

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2014

• #7

I'm going to have to agree with the cowbird, not house finch.

 

Peter C.

...just zis guy, you know?

• Oct 2, 2014

• #8

Fwin71 said:

Two US birders told me at the last ornithological congress that it was a house finch...

Click to expand...

Aha! Yes, I can see that as a source of confusion. However, the female/young House Finch has more contrasting streaking below (background is considerably lighter than on this bird), and shows a distinct white bar on the median wing coverts (there's also a second wing bar, on the greaters, but it's narrower).

Peter

 

Last edited: Oct 2, 2014

Fwin71

Active member

• Oct 2, 2014

• #9

Thanks to all of you! I am fully convinced now.
Lesson of the day: better many than a few opinions on a picture!
Tonight, I will also post some sounds I recorded from the same place, near a stream.
Thanks again!

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Oct 2, 2014

• #10

Peter C. said:

Really? The pictured bird looks just fine for young Brown-headed Cowbird for me - a bird noted for its lack of distinctive features. |:||

I'm now very curious about what your initial suspected ID was - very few eastern North American birds with that bill shape.

Cheers,
Peter

Click to expand...

I agree on Brown-headed Cowbird.

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Oct 2, 2014

• #11

Another for juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird. Spotted, not streaked, underneath, scalloped scapular / mantle feathers, bill size and shape plus large feet.