Blackbird in California (1 Viewer)

[sirijay]

Took this photo yesterday at the Sacramento NWR in California. I came across a flock of these birds at somewhat of a distance and glare, but managed to get this photo. I am thinking it (and the flock) is a Tricolored Blackbird. There were a couple of reports at the refuge this past week. I wondering whether this is indeed a Tricolored Blackbird. Thank you for your help.

 

[KC Foggin]

It looks quite similar to the Tricolored BB shown on Cornell's bird page.

 

[rkj]

I think it is a Tricolored Blackbird based on the white bar on the wing (crossed by an errant feather). The bill looks rather thick for that species, however, more like that of a Red-winged Blackbird, and I am not sure if that is because of the angle at which we see it or if it is a real thing.

 

[sirijay]

Here is another photo of another bird in the flock. This one appears to show the while better.
I looked up the bill size issue, and unfortunately, none of the guides I looked at said anything about the bill.

 

[birdmeister]

Tricolored Blackbird tends to have a thinner bill with a pointier tip than Red-winged, often quite noticeable side-by-side. I think this has a chance of being Tricolored, but with the bird so dirty I'm not confident in what I'm seeing on the wings or bill.