Help ID birds - San Jose, CA, USA (1 Viewer)

[Lisa W]

All photos taken today, Oct 15th at Lake Cunningham in San Jose, CA. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Lisa

#1 - Brewer's Blackbird, never seen one before so am hopeful
#2 - Some sort of Cormorant, not sure which only picture I had
#3 - Juvenile California Gull? would be another new one for me
#4 - Gulls, horrible photo
#5 - The only thing I can come up with is Song Sparrow, but head markings don't look correct

 

[Tiraya]

1. I'm thinking it looks like a great-tailed grackle, which is less common than Brewer's blackbird here! (but still widespread)
2. double-crested

5. song sparrow

 

[Lisa W]

Thanks, James. I keep thinking they are Grackles, but Cornel and IBird both say there are no Grackles in this area.

 

[rkj]

I think Silverwolf is right about the first bird being a Great-tailed Grackle. The tail is not fully grown out, but the bill is too large for a Brewer's Blackbird. There are certainly grackles in the region and they are expanding locally, so I don't think it is too much of a surprise if some show up at Lake Cunningham. Also agree about the cormorant and sparrow; not sure about the gulls.

 

[lou salomon]

3 is a 1st cycle california gull indeed,
5 are not possible to ID but they look like ring-billed.

 

[Tiraya]

Thanks, James. I keep thinking they are Grackles, but Cornel and IBird both say there are no Grackles in this area.

only great-tailed grackle is, so if you are looking at other grackles then they wouldn't show, but GTG should be on these references...

 

[Lisa W]

Thanks, all. Will go with the ids given on the four. I knew the flock of gulls would be dicey to id.