House Wren? — Somerset County, New Jersey, USA (1 Viewer)

[Gfrank]

I want to apologize for the poor-quality photo but this has been the best image I can get so far. Continuing bird at my feeder. It’s smaller than a House Finch and has an overall dark color. Not rusty, more sooty. Slightly paler underneath. It has the pointier beak of a wren so I was thinking maybe House Wren because it lacks the markings of the Carolina Wren.

 

[nartreb]

It does have a plump shape and a stubby tail, so it could well be a wren. I'm afraid the photo isn't clear enough for me to say more than that, except that this time of year in New Jersey it's far more likely to be Winter Wren than a House Wren.

 

[Gfrank]

 

[Gfrank]

I was able to get some better pictures today. I think this is the same bird but today I noticed the yellow on the breast and now I’m totally confused. I’m new to this. Even if it is a different bird, I’m struggling to ID it.

 

[gsimonel]

Could it be a female house sparrow?

 

[THE_FERN]

Could it be a female house sparrow?

No bill is not that of a seed eater. One might think immature starling (a usual confusion species in the US) but it's not that—bill and colours wrong. This looks more like a thrush to me. Unsure as to which thrush species: it's not obviously got American robin plumage but I think at least some of the elements are there. So that's my best guess

(wing bars echo varied thrush but surely that would be exceptional at the location and other plumage elements are wrong.)

 

[Gfrank]

No bill is not that of a seed eater. One might think immature starling (a usual confusion species in the US) but it's not that—bill and colours wrong. This looks more like a thrush to me. Unsure as to which thrush species: it's not obviously got American robin plumage but I think at least some of the elements are there. So that's my best guess

(wing bars echo varied thrush but surely that would be exceptional at the location and other plumage elements are wrong.)

Do you think it could be a type of warbler? Because of the size and the dull yellow on the upper part of the breast. Also the way she clings to the feeder, even upside down sometimes, makes me think maybe not a thrush?

 

[rkj]

This is a puzzler. If it is smaller than a House Finch, then it is no kind of American thrush. With no barring on the wings, it is not a House or Winter Wren. No American warbler has that coloration. For now I am thinking it may be an abnormally colored bird or an exotic escape. All I can say is, try to get more photos.

 

[gsimonel]

Could it be a female house sparrow wearing a fake wren beak?

Never mind.

 

[THE_FERN]

Could it be a female house sparrow wearing a fake wren beak?

Never mind.

Yes with blusher to hide the pale streak behind the eye

 

[KenM]

Why not Orange-Crowned Warbler?

Cheers

 

[rkj]

Why not Orange-Crowned Warbler?

Cheers

Too dark, too brown, lacks eyeline, has wingbars - all of which are wrong for Orange-crowned Warbler.

 

[KenM]

Too dark, too brown, lacks eyeline, has wingbars - all of which are wrong for Orange-crowned Warbler.

Yes, there’s a soup of tones on this bird that don’t appear to match much?
However it’s a warbler species imo, better pics would no doubt shed more light on the subject.
Which one would you select?

 

[DHayden]

It could be a Yellow-rumped Warbler. They have a lot of different looking plumages.

 

[Gfrank]

My little friend came and visited again today. I’m sorry I don’t have better photos. I’m using my phone camera zoomed all the way in. I don’t have a camera. He’s definitely got two wing-bars, a very dull yellow-ish color on his breast, but head and wings are very drab brown. I’m zoomed in, but this little guy is tiny! Smaller than the house finches that visit. It’s hard to see, but he (or she) is perched under the feeder in the last photo, which I included so you could a better idea of his size. I hope someone can help me solve this mystery! I also have a video if it’s helpful, just not sure how to post it.

 

[Gfrank]

Yes, there’s a soup of tones on this bird that don’t appear to match much?
However it’s a warbler species imo, better pics would no doubt shed more light on the subject.
Which one would you select?

I agree. I think it must be some type of warbler. I also wondered if it was Orange-crowned but then saw the comment about the wing-bars and lack of eyeline.

 

[A2GG]

could it be a drab Pine Warbler? they come to NJ feeders in winter in very small numbers. don’t see any “goggles” around eye but perhaps due to lighting and poor quality photos.

 

[raymie]

Pine Warbler is my guess.

 

[Gfrank]

Pine Warbler is my guess.

I could see that. Maybe an immature female?