Leaderboard

Lesser. Narrow tall head, narrow bill nail

Looks good for Redhead-a peaked forehead instead of a peaked back of the head like RNDU.

THIS is insane https://ebird.org/checklist/S98051917 Planning on heading over there tomorrow, hopefully that works out.

There’s a couple candidates there which I would take a closer look at in the field, but nothing I would call an unambiguous Cackler from these photos, and they could well all be Canadas

The general shape seems right, with that tail and those webbed feet. From what we can see of the head, it look rather slender, and I think I can see a little bit of the slim bill.

First snow Dark-eyed Junco

Sigh, parents pulled a switcheroo, not entirely unexpected, but I’ll be happy to be taking my drivers test next week.

Harris’s Sparrow. Lots of White-throated Sparrows at this location too but apparently I was the only person today who didn’t see one! I could have had an ABA Zonotrichia slam! Ah well, we all need nemesis birds to keep us birding. I also saw a Swamp Sparrow for the first time—beautiful long looks, out in the open, but as soon as I looked through my camera viewfinder it was gone. I was very, very angry.

I got a few pretty good ones today (see here), but this is the best one, I think.

You got it!

Sandhill Crane

I’d say Eared

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391236241 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391235481 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391235451 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391235341 https://ebird.org/checklist/S98097276

I hate heat haze.

Hmm...not with those wing-bars. Maybe Pine?

I believe so. The only other owl that makes similar calls (at least to what I’m familiar with) would be Boreal, but I don’t think those make it to Michigan

Double-crested Cormorants, I believe.

Past few days. Some really good ones in here!: Barred Owl in Washoe County, NEVADA https://ebird.org/checklist/S98023686 Pink-footed Goose in Wappingers Falls, NEW YORK Elaenia species in Waukegan, ILLINOIS (birder only had a brief glance and got one shot that is definitely not a normal flycatcher species. Some people are guessing White-crested, but bird hasn't been refound.) King Eider in King County, NORTH DAKOTA Northern Lapwing in Port au Port Peninsula, NEWFOUNDLAND Barnacle Goose in Mercer County, NEW JERSEY https://ebird.org/checklist/S98041614 Garganey in Riverside County, CALIFORNIA https://ebird.org/checklist/S98034311 Brown Booby in Kent County, RHODE ISLAND https://ebird.org/checklist/S98043680 Anna's Hummingbird in Jefferson County, KENTUCKY (1st state record!) https://ebird.org/checklist/S97788001

Yeah, I totally get a vegetarian diet for health reasons. Sounds awesome but I probably wouldn’t be able to do that given current circumstances. Imo diet isn’t a purely spiritual thing, on the Bible aspect, post-flood or after the start of mosaic law, there’s nothing explicitly against eating meat; there’re even a few instances which it’s mentioned in a positive light. Before that though, I don’t know. But yeah, this is a birding forum, I degress ?

Out here in New Mexico at my dad's, we had pie and ice cream first, at lunchtime, which was fun. (Apple, Blackberry, Pumpkin, Key Lime, and Buttermilk.) Later in the day we had turkey, ham, rolls, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, my homemade cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole. Then the kids and I went back to the motel room and hibernated like bears. ? One thing of note is there were two kinds of green bean casseroles. Normal, and then my dad experimented, because we're in New Mexico. He put hatch green chiles in the other one, and oh my word it was amazing. Highly recommend.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391255141 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391255211

Insane day! https://ebird.org/checklist/S98097276

Juvenile little blue heron, Orange County, Ca.

Coop was surprisingly inept at catching juncos. Kept crashing into the bushes they were in and sending them scattering before it could get one.

seen in alaska (near whittier) a few weeks ago

Quality over quantity lately. White-winged Scoter (3) - 3 times in past week Cackling Goose Lesser Black-backed Gull (2) Dunlin - very, very late. Golden Eagle

You’re right…. I should have started with a photo of a male and female killdeer to represent the gametes. ?

It's domestic Mallard. The odd look is a popular color called "Pastel" its used by breeders in call ducks, mallards and runners.

You mean while you wait for the tow truck to arrive? ?

Pileated Woodpeckers range in size between 16 and 20 inches tall. That's at least twice the size of your original 8 inch estimate. There are over 20 North American woodpecker species, ranging from 5 to 20 inches; while I'm sure you've seen a ton of them, they're not all the same size. Crests are not fixed in the raised position. Cardinals, Blue Jays, Pileateds, and other birds with obvious crests can raise and lower them to varying degrees, especially when flying. Indeed, almost all birds can raise the feathers on the top of the head to some extent. I think you can discard the tropical bird theory. Any stray or escaped tropicals would likely not have survived the temperatures of the last few days.

Perfect example of how you can’t trust iridescence colors.

Could you have mistaken something large in its mouth for its bill? Check out Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/id#

Yes, I would rather keep this forum not so religious.

Just look at the colors on this bufflehead! https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391234741

Plus all brown head with no grey tones or dark cap.

Northern Shrike showed up in same spot for 4th winter in a row. Latest Dunlin for the county today.

Thanks for the input everyone! I was pretty sure it was a Saw-whet with both vocalization types, but I knew other species could sound similar. “Overdue” lifer, but yeah I’m sure they’re a lot more common than would seem.

@IKLland The last one you circled is the same size and its bill is the same length as the obvious Canadas next to it. The lighting and possibly the heat haze is making the forehead look steep.

In general I think Saw-Whets are more common/widespread than people realize

Specifically listen to the first two calls (not song, calls) for Northern Saw-Whet Owl on All About Birds, sounds exactly like @Birding Boy ‘s two call types he recorded. Obviously I have more to learn about Screech-Owl vocalizations, thanks for informing me @The Bird Nuts … I still feel pretty confident this is a Saw-Whet not a Screech-Owl though.

Screech Owls make barking and whinnying sounds, I do not believe they produce an ascending screech call. This is definitely a small owl, we can rule out Barred All in all it’s definitely a Saw-Whet, I’m certain of that much at least.

The “barking” calls are fairly ambiguous, I think a lot of small owls do that sort of thing. That ascending screech is diagnostic for Saw-Whet though.

I'm so sorry - I meant Pine Warbler - I think this definitely a Pine Warbler, but a friend says - Ruby-crowned Kinglet - which is definitely not!

Sorry, I don't see any obvious Cacklers. They're all the same size in the second photo and in range for small Canada in the first.

Indeed.

Ruddy Turnstone https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/391081111

Here is one from my only encounter with a Snowy Owl. Yours are much better. I would so love to see another one. Beautiful creatures!