Bird ID Help, NE USA (1 Viewer)

[lucidtim68]

I'm brand new to bird watching. So I apologize in advance for lack of detail/knowledge.

In North central NY, USA. Old growth forest with a river bordering.
April 12,2014. Temp about 40F

I was on a walk this morning and saw a smallish duck(mallard) sized bird. At first I thought it was a duck with a mate and a third solo, but then it perched in a tree. It had a loud call, and seemed shy around humans. Looking into sunlight it seemed dark gray or light black with a longish neck for a duck. The beak was more pointed than a duck bill. Flew away towards the river/pond area.

Later in my walk I was at a pond. A similar looking duck, gray(dark gray?) with back and white stripes on it's back, the three flew out of site as soon as I saw them.

Sizing is larger than a american crow but smaller than a mallard.

Any Ideas what this was?
Thanks,
Tim

 

[tril42]

Can you describe the call? My first thought is a heron, perhaps Black-Crowned Night Heron. They make a sort of barking squawk.

 

[jmepler]

Hi Tim, Welcome to the forum.

Black-crowned Night-Heron was my first thought.

 

[lucidtim68]

The call was loud, sharp. I would say a shrill squeak. In a series of three. Higher toned and louder than a crow. I've seen Heron's(not heard), but the neck was not that long.

I have an Audubon Society Field Guide For NA, following the guide it seemed like an upright perching bird like the Black Guillemot or a small Cormorant but fits neither due to color. The white/black(dark gray?) was on the body for sure, didn't notice white on the wing.

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/878/_/Black_Guillemot.aspx#history
the call of this bird is similar, seemed like an alarm call though.

I was curious as I've been to this forest many times and never seen it before.

Tim

 

[tril42]

Wilson's Snipe? Their backs are striped and they match the call you describe. Skittish birds, seldom seem. The beak is very long, though, I don't know if that's a match.

 

[jmepler]

Black-crowned Night-Herons are not particularly long-necked, in fact if they have their head drawn back they look like they have no neck at all.

Take a look at a picture here.

You can listen to one of their calls here.

 

[chris butterworth]

Black-crowned Night Herons sounds about right from the descriptions. The 'grey' back would fit an adult and sub-adults can be 'streaky'

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

Wood Duck seems a reasonable guess. The description of the call sounds good too.

 

[Reuven_M]

Sound like Wood Ducks to me too