Washington DC, United States - Stumped (large perching bird) (1 Viewer)

[sjs20016]

This morning spotted a pair of very large birds perched at the very top a pine tree. I've never seen birds like this.

They were quite large - somewhere around the size of a northern goshawk or red-tailed hawk.

What has stumped me is the markings. Highly speckled, dark, very much like a European starling (I know starlings, and this was definitely not a starling. Way way too big to be a starling), and it did not have a raptor beak. They had black or brown beaks, with a beak shape very much like a sapsucker.

One of the brids had a slight shimmer of green iridescence at the top of the breast. The other's coloring was more muted. Both were highly speckled. They arrived and departed as a pair.

I know these markings sound a lot like starling, but like I said, it was huge and no way they could be starlings.

These birds looks so unusual I almost wondered if they escaped from the zoo (we live about 2 miles from a zoo).

Any help identifying the birds would be appreciated! Unfortunately, I have no photos.
Thanks
Steve

 

[Butty]

They were quite large - somewhere around the size of a northern goshawk or red-tailed hawk.

Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable. And - if they were dark, speckled paler (I guess this is what you mean), with a vaguely woodpecker-like bill - then... I do suspect that you overestimated the size quite substantially. We've all done it. No offence.

 

[Butty]

May I be first to welcome you to BF! I hope you will enjoy presenting us with ID challenges!

 

[sjs20016]

Judging the size of alone bird is notoriously unreliable. And - if they were dark, speckled paler (I guess this is what you mean), with a vaguely woodpecker-like bill - then... I do suspect that you overestimated the size quite substantially. We've all done it. No offence.

Thanks so much for the quick reply.

Maybe it was something with the binoculars and the angle and very narrow tip of the tree top - I can completely accept that I overestimated the size!

The easiest explanation would definitely be European starlings!

Thanks for your patience with a newbie.