Help with Grosbeak (?) Oregon Coast (1 Viewer)

R

rwhillman

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2007

• #1

I am stumped and help is appreciated. Maybe Grosbeak, but I have no confidence in this.
Bob

 

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AStevenson

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2007

• #2

Moulting juvenile (I think) Spotted Towhee is what you have there.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

gerdwichers8

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2007

• #3

Somehow it is a Spotted Towhee

http://thebirdguide.com/digiscoping/photos/spotted_towhee.htm

I tried to find an exact match to this plumage but that didn't work.

 

R

rwhillman

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2007

• #4

Thanks. I am also having trouble with the match. I would have thought with a towhee there would have been more white visible on the breast, but maybe I just don't have a good angle with the photos.

 

AStevenson

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2007

• #5

Having checked the books it is youngster and they have a much duller plumage - it is starting to moult into an adult plumage hence the rusty flanks coming through (but no white yet). I would guess this inbetween juvenile and adult plumage isn't regularly shown in books or photos.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

Chris Benesh

So much work, so little time...so let's go birding

• Dec 18, 2007

• #6

Hi All,

I agree with Andrew's and Gerd's assessment. The dull colored iris and loose looking feathers suggest a young bird, although the brownish tones may be formative feathers of a female bird. Also, the rufous flanks are pretty extensive on this species and I think that the angle alone could account for the white belly not being visible. An example:
http://www.birdsofwestwood.com/images/birdpics/stowheeA.jpg

Just out of curiosity, when was the picture taken?

Chris

 

R

rwhillman

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2007

• #7

Thanks to all for the comments. Spotted towhee it is.
Chris, the picture was taken in late July.
Bob