Bird In Northern Texas Panhandle, ID request (1 Viewer)

T

TexasEntomologist

New member

• Jan 9, 2016

• #1

Hello, i'm new to the forum and don't know much about birds. I'm curious about a bird that I saw recently in the Texas Planhandle, Lake Merideth. It was as large as a robin and flew from shrub to shrub. Brown or grayish brown feathers but when it flew the color of the underwings were a dark orange. It had a bright white patch at the base of the tail (dorsal side). Fairly large straight beak. No yellow on the bird. I saw 2-3 birds but they were not together. Any thoughts?

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Jan 9, 2016

• #2

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum :t:

My first thought was a Thrasher but I could be way off. Any way you can try to get an image of it and post it in the Bird I D section of the Forum?

We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello

 

T

TexasEntomologist

New member

• Jan 9, 2016

• #3

KCFoggin said:

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum :t:

My first thought was a Thrasher but I could be way off. Any way you can try to get an image of it and post it in the Bird I D section of the Forum?

We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello

Click to expand...

it flew away before I could take a pic. However, you might be right I searched for thrasher images and it does look similar to this.

https://www.google.com/search?q=thr...hXCjz4KHZwkDgkQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=jvNFToOmxxWODM:

i can't find a pic of the white patch on the tail though. Thanks

 

ptickner

Well-known member

• Jan 10, 2016

• #4

Welcome to BirdForum. I'm inclined to say your bird is a Northern Flicker. They meet all of your criteria, especially the white patch while in flight. This bird can either be red-shafted (primarily western) or yellow-shafted (eastern), and you can have either in TX. Your description sounds like the Red-shafted variety. Google Image search for "Northern Flicker in flight" and I think you'll have your bird!

 

Kits

Picture Picker

Social Media Editor

• Jan 11, 2016

• #5

Welcome to BirdForum! I am sure you will find lots to interest you here, and I hope you enjoy your visits.