Bird puzzle mystery bird (1 Viewer)

[Alison425]

Hi,
I’m new here so I apologize if I’m breaking any rules by posting this here. I got a puzzle and I can’t identify one of the birds. I’m an avid birder and usually have no trouble with ID. I know puzzles can be stylized with generic birds, but all of the other birds are clearly specific species. It seems to be chickadee-sized and similar coloration, but I can’t find anything that matches. I have looked at all of the other bird ID sites and apps and nothing has helped, so I’m here as a last hope. I bought the puzzle in the US, so I guess it’s a US species, but who knows? I’ll attach a picture and the bird in question is circled in red. I hope someone can help!

 

[KC Foggin]

Of course I knew all of them except for the circled one I'm leaning towards a Chickadee I am not familiar with. Hopefully someone will be able to identify it.

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like.

 

[pianoman]

Yes it would surely have to be a Black Capped Chickadee (along with its friend in the foreground) - the markings on the back and wings are perhaps exaggerated a little, or it could be a juvenile almost molted into adulthood.

The picture seems to represent common yard birds, so it would be strange to put anything too exotic in there.

 

[njlarsen]

Some of the details remind me of a long-tailed tit while other details would be off for that species. Most likely Black Capped Chickadee with artistic license.
Niels

 

[Microtus]

Black-capped (or even Carolina) Chickadee, but not the most accurate representation.

 

[pianoman]

I think they are enhanced photographs of some kind rather than pure paintings - if the latter they are rather good.

 

[nartreb]

This is a photo of a print (box cover?) so it's hard to be too certain that what I see on my screen matches the original artwork, but this looks to me like a composite photograph. There are lots of details that would be somewhat unlikely in a pure painting - things like the rust stains around the nails in the birdhouse. And something about the edges of some of the birds looks "off" for a single photograph - look at the crest of the blue jay. The lighting and shadows look pretty consistent, yet not quite perfect - compare the glare on the back of the "mystery" to the whites of the other birds. I think some of the bird photos have been resized - the blue jay in particular looks blurrier than the other birds, which would be weird in a painting. Some of them may have been digitally altered to create a painting-like effect. This may be true of the "mystery" bird -- or else it's a very good painting. I go back and forth - I think the wren and nuthatch may be paintings, or have been retouched manually.

I see absolutely nothing to indicate that the "mystery" bird isn't a black-capped / carolina chickadee.