RWBL with EUST beak? (Central PA) (1 Viewer)

A

AJP

Guest

• Mar 5, 2013

• #1

Was out checking my bluebird trail a few minutes ago and saw three starlings in a tree. Upon closer inspection, I saw that one "starling" had epaulets. It struck me as very unusual to have a RWBL in Pennsylvania this time of year, but even odder still was that it appeared to have the beak of a starling. My 200mm lens couldn't reach very far, but here's the best shot I got. All three were chattering to each other (the other two were starlings for certain.)

Photo

Enlarged photo

 

The Falcon

Registered Birder

• Mar 5, 2013

• #2

The bill looks pretty normal for a RWB to me. The photo was taken at a weird angle, which may be the reason why you think the bill is more like that of a Starling.

Red-winged Blackbirds shouldn't be uncommon in PA, now, or anytime of the year for that matter. In fact, this is when they are migrating, so you should start seeing more and more of them while they are moving through.

 

A

AJP

Guest

• Mar 5, 2013

• #3

They usually start appearing here mid-April, but maybe this one is an "early bird" (no pun intended). The beak still looked very strange to me.

 

Tiraya

San Diego CA

• Mar 5, 2013

• #4

Its just reflection.

 

A

AJP

Guest

• Mar 6, 2013

• #5

Not a reflection. I studied him from many angles for several minutes.

 

J

jaco

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2013

• #6

I don't get it. What about that bird's bill is starling-like?

 

S

stonechat1

New member

• Mar 6, 2013

• #7

Nothing wrong with that bill. Sure it´s more starling- like then finch-like, but no wonder RWB´s are member of the starling family.

 

J

jaco

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2013

• #8

Red-winged Blackbirds and starlings are not in the same family.

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Mar 6, 2013

• #9

RWB is an icterid, closely related to New World sparrows and, a bit more distantly, to Old World buntings.

Chris

 

S

stonechat1

New member

• Mar 7, 2013

• #10

Thanks guys, how I did mix up the families is curious for me, hence the family guide to icterids is on my bookshelf.
Of course without the European Starling, guess the german name for this species, Rotschulterstärling, let me travel the wrong way.