May 27-28, 2018 Guayaquil, Ecuador Birds (1 Viewer)

howiewu · Jun 14, 2018

Hi, I took these pictures in Guayaquil, Ecuador on May 27 and 28, after my trip to the Galapagos.

Here are my thoughts:

1. an immature cowbird/blackbird, Shiny Cowbird?
2. surely Saffron Finch?
3. another cowbird/blackbird, another Shiny Cowbird?
4. Grey-breasted Martin?
5. Pale-vented Pigeon?

Thanks in advance,
Howard

pbjosh · Jun 14, 2018

Scrub Blackbirds, Saffron Finch, GB Martin, and PV Pigeon.

Note that your first bird is a juvenile. Juvenile Shiny Cowbirds are brown, not black. As well in any picture this close and detailed, a male Shiny Cowbird would show purple tones, particularly on the neck, and the bill would be shorter and a bit more curved. Shiny Cowbird would have more of a neckless, bull-headed jizz.

howiewu · Jun 14, 2018

pbjosh said:
Scrub Blackbirds, Saffron Finch, GB Martin, and PV Pigeon.

Note that your first bird is a juvenile. Juvenile Shiny Cowbirds are brown, not black. As well in any picture this close and detailed, a male Shiny Cowbird would show purple tones, particularly on the neck, and the bill would be shorter and a bit more curved. Shiny Cowbird would have more of a neckless, bull-headed jizz.

Thanks, pbjosh.

It is interesting that the Shiny Cowbird seems to have eluded me, even though it is supposed to be common in S.A.

I posted this picture on another thread and someone said it looks like a juvenile Shiny Cowbird. What do you think of this one (the bill does seem more like a cowbird bill).

pbjosh · Jun 14, 2018

That is a juvenile Shiny Cowbird. Brown, with a messy spotted appearance that varies with age.

You probably did see plenty of Shiny Cowbirds, they're common in almost any disturbed habitat in the lowlands from Mexico to Northern Argentina. However, despite being largely common species, casually telling various Blackbird and Cowbird species from each other takes quite a bit of experience and knowledge of voice and habit, and no matter how well you know them if you only see a bird poorly or hear just an odd snippet of vocalization, you're not going to be able to ID it a lot of the time.

pbjosh · Jun 14, 2018

Also take a look at the bill length on your Cowbird vs all the Scrub Blackbirds, and notice how the Cowbird's bill has a slightly curved culmen...

howiewu · Jun 14, 2018

pbjosh said:
That is a juvenile Shiny Cowbird. Brown, with a messy spotted appearance that varies with age.

You probably did see plenty of Shiny Cowbirds, they're common in almost any disturbed habitat in the lowlands from Mexico to Northern Argentina. However, despite being largely common species, casually telling various Blackbird and Cowbird species from each other takes quite a bit of experience and knowledge of voice and habit, and no matter how well you know them if you only see a bird poorly or hear just an odd snippet of vocalization, you're not going to be able to ID it a lot of the time.

:t:

Both are new birds to me, so I am super happy; and great learning experience too! Thanks!

May 27-28, 2018 Guayaquil, Ecuador Birds (1 Viewer)

More options

howiewu

Well-known member

Attachments

pbjosh

missing the neotropics

howiewu

Well-known member

Attachments

pbjosh

missing the neotropics

pbjosh

missing the neotropics

howiewu

Well-known member

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread