Louisiana Waterthrush? (suburbs of Atlanta Georgia USA) (1 Viewer)

[radix023]

the Merlin app put this as one of three. The waterthrush is the only one with the eye band/line like this guy, but is "uncommon" so I figured I would check before declaring.

Thanks in advance for constructive input!

 

[nartreb]

Song sparrow.

 

[Butty]

I'm guessing that you meant supercilium rather than eye-stripe/band/line . . . But, regardless of that, it might be amusing to know which other two Merlin suggested?

 

[radix023]

Song Sparrow and Ovenbird were the other Merlin offerings

 

[KC Foggin]

Song Sparrow for me.

 

[Microtus]

It's most definitely a Song Sparrow, looking like it's eating a seed. Waterthrushes are insect eaters.

 

[njlarsen]

Song Sparrow and Ovenbird were the other Merlin offerings

Do remember that when Merlin offers options, you should look at several photos of each of the top choices.
Niels

 

[AveryBartels]

One of the very first things to look for when making a bird ID is the bill. In this case, the thicker, stout bill rules out any warblers (including Waterthrush and Ovenbird) and is typical of sparrows

 

[THE_FERN]

[Just to note for those sceptical of AI / ML approaches to ID like Merlin I can see why it flagged this as a waterthrush]

 

[Butty]

I can see why it flagged this as a waterthrush

I can see why it could have done, but I can also see why it shouldn't have done - viz. the bill-shape (a near-fundamental starting-point for all bird IDs, as Avery says), which it has clearly either not been able to decipher or has ignored. We can all see the bill-shape, so . . . Must do better! Bird ID-by-AI is still way behind that for plants.