N. Am. bird with long black toes and beak? (1 Viewer)

R

Randall

Member

• Apr 19, 2008

• #1

This inconspicuous bird showed up at our feeder in Mid-April. My wife says it is grey, I say brown. Its the colour of the bark on the mountain ash in the photos. It is bigger than a house finch, with no evident markings. Its black toes seem to be extraordinarily long. It was eating sunflower seeds. Beverley saw it the day before, sitting in the sun on the patio, motionless for several minutes. I don't have any idea what it is, do you?

Randall.

 

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Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Apr 19, 2008

• #2

I don't know much about N. American birds but could it be a blue grosbeak with aberrant plumage?

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Apr 19, 2008

• #3

I wish it were a female Blue Grosbeak, but unfortunately it is just a female Brown-headed Cowbird.

Best,
Jim

 

Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Apr 19, 2008

• #4

Whoops!

 

R

Randall

Member

• Apr 19, 2008

• #5

Thank you! I've noticed the males before, but never the female. My National Geographic Birds of N. America shows the female with a white throat and stripes on the breast, which I did not notice on this bird and are not in the photographs.

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Apr 19, 2008

• #6

Randall said:

Thank you! I've noticed the males before, but never the female. My National Geographic Birds of N. America shows the female with a white throat and stripes on the breast, which I did not notice on this bird and are not in the photographs.

Click to expand...

That is a poor drawing in the National Geographic guide IMO! Sibley is much better in this particular instance. The whitish throat can be pretty subtle, but I can see it in the second photo. Streaking is not always present, and even when present can be hard to see. Here is another photo for your reference:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070310/fob2.asp

Best,
Jim

 

Last edited: Apr 20, 2008

R

Randall

Member

• Apr 20, 2008

• #7

Now that I know it is a cowbird, it explains the long toes. Thanks for your help.
Randall.