what is this bird (1 Viewer)

[mdmoshier2]

I saw this bird 6 weeks ago at Portal, AZ. I have been unable to figure out what this bird is and merlin is no help. sorry this is the best photo I have.

 

[Butty]

Blue grosbeak, innit?

 

[mdmoshier2]

Blue grosbeak, innit?

the spots not streaks on the breast made me think it wasn't.

 

[Butty]

There's no streaks on that species in any plumage. The dark blotches are either feather-bases or freshly-moulted feathers. The dark centred undertail-coverts may be odd though - I haven't checked.

 

[mdmoshier2]

There's no streaks on that species in any plumage. The dark blotches are either feather-bases or freshly-moulted feathers. The dark centred undertail-coverts may be odd though - I haven't checked.

the white near the tail on the lower belly should be brown on the blue grosbeak shouldn't it? I will agree that that one seems to be the closest however.

 

[KC Foggin]

It's definitely a Grosbeak but as to which, I don't know.

 

[rkj]

If this were from late summer/fall I would be wondering if it wasn't a young male cowbird.

 

[mdmoshier2]

If this were from late summer/fall I would be wondering if it wasn't a young male cowbird.

I think the beak is too big

 

[rkj]

I think the beak is too big

Perhaps, but I know from experience that a Brown-headed Cowbird in silhouette can look surprisingly like a Blue Grosbeak.

 

[Butty]

If this were from late summer/fall I would be wondering if it wasn't a young male cowbird.

Good point - hadn't thought of that - bill/head shape is probably good - doesn't show brown-headed cowbird's faint malar stripe in these photos though. Do 1st-year males retain some/most juvenile (or juvenile-like) plumage through to the 2nd-calendar-year full moult?

Got any more photos?

 

[RafaelMatias]

Good point - hadn't thought of that - bill/head shape is probably good - doesn't show brown-headed cowbird's faint malar stripe in these photos though. Do 1st-year males retain some/most juvenile (or juvenile-like) plumage through to the 2nd-calendar-year full moult?

Got any more photos?

Blue Grosbeak (2nd cal year, apparently) actually correct. Bill is definitely wrong (very) for any cowbird species.

 

[Butty]

Oh, of course there are the wing-bars, which are a big reason I went straight for blue grosbeak in the first place and do knock out brown-headed cowbird.

 

[RafaelMatias]

Oh, of course there are the wing-bars, which are a big reason I went straight for blue grosbeak in the first place and do knock out brown-headed cowbird.

Yes, and everything else seems to be spot on.