Bird ID Ontario Canada (1 Viewer)

I am sorry I haven't got a picture of him but it is driving me mad. I am sure he is a common type bird but I have no idea what he is.

The male was very inquisitive and came down onto my deck and he had a yellowish brown chest with a soft brown tail and wings. He had a beautiful brown crest on his head. I think I saw the female in the trees and her crest was almost non existant.

Forgive me I am a beginner bird watcher and can identify the cardinals, blue jays and woodpeckers we have but this little guy comes regularly and I would love to id him.

He is medium sized between a blue jay and sparrow, more like an American robin size.
Any ideas? :h?:

PS I have searched all the canadian back yard bird sites and cannot find him.

Perhaps it was a Cedar Waxwing ? :h?:

Sandi,

Daves suggestion sounds just right to me - Cedar Waxwing.

Cheers,

Andy.

(welcome aboard BF)

No that wasn't the bird. This guy had a very prominent crest. I had a pm suggesting a Northern Cardinal juvenile. I googled it and found this pic and it seems to be very similar. photo I am just not sure about the beak of my bird was so prominent like this little guy..

The bird was back yesterday but left before I could take his pic. I will get it!!

Thank you for your kind help.

Cardinal could well be the bird, but just for the record, cedar waxwings do have crests as well, as seen in this photo.

http://www.giraud.com/tech/tech_images/pic_jg_cedar_waxwing.JPG

Scott

That's a beautiful bird Scott thank you.

Actually the more I am seeing this bird and others like him the more redder he is becoming. It is wonderful to watch this change in them. So it is indeed a cardinal.

One perched on my deck today, no crest (female?), quite red but still with quite a few brownish undertones. I am hooked on bird watching now!

sandi said:

That's a beautiful bird Scott thank you.

Actually the more I am seeing this bird and others like him the more redder he is becoming. It is wonderful to watch this change in them. So it is indeed a cardinal.

One perched on my deck today, no crest (female?), quite red but still with quite a few brownish undertones. I am hooked on bird watching now!

Click to expand...

Both males and females have crests, but they can lay them down to some extent. The females stay brownish with some red undertones, the males start out brown like the females and eventually moult (I'm not certain at what age) into the bright red plumage.

Male: http://www.rondayphotography.com/Northern%20Cardinal%20(male).htm
Female: http://www.rondayphotography.com/Northern%20Cardinal%20(female).htm
Crest down: http://static.flickr.com/51/116232237_340bc52e36_m.jpg

If there is no crest at all, then perhaps you also have some purple finch or house finch.

purple: http://www.roysephotos.com/PurpleFinch.html
house: http://hem.passagen.se/texas03/bilder/HOUSE FINCH_NEALS LODGES_TEXAS_0304.jpg

Hope I havn't confused things,

Scott