Stumper from Shenandoah Natl. Park (large finch-type bird) (1 Viewer)

This bird was sitting at the very top of a large, solitary pine tree on the side of a mountain at about 3,000' elevation. It looked to be about 7-8" long.

Its flight was rolling/slightly undulating and it had a very clearly notched tail.

My impression was of a large finch. It seemed bulkier than a Pine Siskin and I think I am too far south for crossbills.

I didn't notice any obvious markings other than some streaking on the wings.

I'll say a female Brown-headed Cowbird

cjwolf said:

I'll say a female Brown-headed Cowbird

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I'll say it too.

Please don't let that be true!!!!!!!!!

But when I look at the pictures - I think the same thing.

When I was looking at the bird - I never for a second thought FBHCB. I took the picture through light rain a long ways away (taken with 300 mm lens with effective 375mm sensor) but shortly after looking through the binocs and feeling the bird was interesting enough to photograph (meaning I did not believe it was a bhcb) and taking the 2 pictures the bird flew straight towards me at nearly eye level and I saw its deeply notched tail.

Then again, I have been fooled by missing central tail feathers before. And it is possible that the rain caused some feather deformation that I interpreted as streaked wing coloration.

If it was too easy, it wouldn't be fun!