Strange bird in Central CA/ Global help needed! (1 Viewer)

[catmadden]

If anyone, anywhere has ever seen a bird like this, please, please, help! Even if you saw it in a cage, at least I will know it is a pet escaped. Taken last Spring, May I think. 2008

Thank you for being here to help us less informed.

I submitted this bird once before, about a year ago. It was taken in a park in Aptos, CA on the ground, hanging out with Crows. It was eating some yellow flower looking things. there were about 8 to 9 of these birds there. They made a low buzzing noise. This is the way the bird looked. It really had that color beak, it was not "stained" by the flowers. All of them were this color. I do not have photo shop as I was accused of before. . I really want to try to ID it. I have found out that a nearby exotic pet store closed a short time before I saw these birds. Well I try again.

 

[durham giant]

sorry, can't help you but it does look like a crow species or a grackle

 

[MLoyko]

That would be my guess too, looks like some kkind of grackle looking bird.

 

[steveo]

Looks more like a Mynah to me.

 

[The Falcon]

Looks more like a Mynah to me.

I've looked at mynas, and none fit in my opinion. The bird was hopping which eliminates blackbirds, grackles and cowbirds as these birds always walk.

This is most likely a escapee. In California anything is possible, so I am not sure what the bird is at this point.

 

[littlest_bird]

My first thought is the australian satin bowerbird. The shape is right on, but the colors aren't quite right for the males, and females are greenish. I don't think they do well as cage birds, so it's not likely to be a released bowerbird. Perhaps something related?

 

[etudiant]

"There were 8 or 9 of these birds there". Would that not rule out an escapee?

 

[MLoyko]

"There were 8 or 9 of these birds there". Would that not rule out an escapee?

Unlesss a pet store or somebody with that many just got sick of them and let them go

 

[bitterntwisted]

I think Yellow-billed Cacique was the best of the suggestions last time, and I reckon that's what it is.

Graham

 

[birderbf]

My reaction last time was a Brewer's Blackbird or something with the same basic shape. I don't remember the bit about there being 8 or 9 of the same species all showing a yellow beak though! Perhaps some sort of glossy starling or relative?

 

[lmans66]

Looks like an Ani....or a Yellow-billed Cacique...both are tropical birds. But the Ani has a yellow beak, while the cacique doesn't have that dinosaur look to the beak like this one has.

 

[Dr Manjeet Singh]

This is most likely a escapee. In California anything is possible, so I am not sure what the bird is at this point.

A Prescruption Bird..lol...who know's some one California...must have gone to a pet shop and said ..i one this bird crossed with that bird...this may be the result and after seing the result...no sale..poor pet shop owner had to release them>:t:...of cause the poor birds..:-C

 

[antshrike69]

It's not an Ani and the bill in this picture looks too short and blunt for a Cacique.

 

[Motmot]

A flock??? of Yellow-billed Caciques hopping on the ground with crows??? No way with such skulkers...
Can't put a name on them though. Looks grackleish but if all showed that bill, I don't know...

 

[Rasmus Boegh]

That bill really doesn't look normal at all. I suspect you're looking at a deformity here. That is at odds with the 8-9 birds mentioned in the initial post, but I still seriously doubt this is a normal bill. On a worldwide basis I cannot think of *anything* (and yes, you can exclude mynas, anis, caciques, bowerbirds, crows, etc) that is even remotely similar to this and has a bill that looks like that.

 

[antshrike69]

The bird itself looks as if it should be distinctive - strong-legged, pale-eyed. But that bill...

 

[catmadden]

I did not get a close look at the other birds, the one in the photo is the only one I can say had the funny thick bill. The others had yellow bills tho... Thank you for not accusing me of photo shopping this time. I have been very frustrated by this bird and lack of ID...

 

[Tib78]

It was eating some yellow flower looking things. .

It explains the yellow bill...I think it's a kind of yellow petal, covering the bill...though I don't know what this bird is...

 

[Gentoo]

Javan Myna?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Javan_Myna_(Acridotheres_javanicus).jpg

Jungle Myna?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Myna

 

[teunissen]

Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus to me. Look at the bird without looking at the bill. What would you make of it? Let's say you would have a picture of this bird just walking behind a wall. Most people wouldn't doubt for a second to call it Brewer's then. The primary projection, the dark legs, the tail length, the pale eye, everything fits on it.

Now look at the bill. Do you see a nasal opening? I don't. And like you already said it was eating some yellow stuff, maybe flower petals? These things can sometimes be a bit sticky. I wouldn't be surprised if that has fooled you, thinking it to be something strange.