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How it Started: Oh look. What a cute little bird. Oh it's so funny how it climbs down trees upside down, and makes monkey-like sounds. So cuddly. How it's Going: "I'm gonna gut you punk." "Not if I gut you first."

This one is my favorite, wish I had framed it better though. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/317290821

Just a classic upside-down Nut on a tree

Another Redpoll shot from a few weeks ago I kinda like. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/427480571

A pretty male Common Redpoll contemplating which seed to consume

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/407418731

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/427688661

American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Feels like a cormorant to me. Definitely wait for one of the 'experts' I'm regularly assured are here.

One from yesterday and one from today.

Sorry y'all, I'm just slammed with thesis stuff lately. After I calculate the latest scoreboard from the past two quizzes, I think I will have to take a break from moderating the quiz until I've finished my master's in May. I'd love for the quiz to continue in my absence though, so y'all should have no problem keeping it going until I'm back. I think @Kevin is the natural interim successor, but I know y'all have expressed interest switching roles, so I'll leave that up to you. Stay tuned for the latest scoreboard!

Acorn, Portal, Az

Looks like part of the red patch on left wing. Tundra Swans, coming through now in large flocks.

"That took some effort". Hope no one minds some potty humor

Okay, this one will go here. The rest will go in "Sometimes I just want friends to see a bird I photographed, no rules." https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/427434431

So hard to choose! I went with this one because of the pretty green foliage. We have friendly nuthatches here so it's not too hard to get photos of them.

Probably not best, but here's one I just took recently

I thought this may be of interest to some on this forum since the conversation about feral/naturalized/escaped bird(s) and small established populations of them seems to come up fairly regularly. Note: this is California-specific and indicates the species potential for addition to the state's official checklist, as determined by the CBRC. Keep in mind, this document reflects the CBRC's current views on these specific species and their status and distribution within CA. This is subject to change over time, and may. Lastly, the question of these specific populations of birds most often comes up when determining something is a "lifer" or not, and whether "species x" is countable or not. For some, this document may help inform them in their choices of what to count or not, while for others this list may have zero bearing over their personal life list. Either way, I thought I would share it. https://www.californiabirds.org/CBRC Annotated Watch List_Mar2022.pdf

American Kestrel

American Three-toed Woodpecker https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/356566911

American coots

Gopher Tortuous from yesterday.

We saw lots of great birds yesterday but photography wise the day was terrible. So this was my best photo of the day.

Agree with RTHU. FWIW, on perched Archilochus hummingbirds, if you can, clear photos showing the wings at rest is very helpful. The shape of the inner and outer primaries is often one of the most reliable ways to differentiate between BCHU and RTHU.

The plover on the far left looks like a Black-bellied

Semipalmated Sandpiper

They’re always in bad lighting or too distant.

From the Sierra de La Guna Mountains, Baja.

Meh. I need better photos

Yes, this is a DCCO. The “crooked neck” in flight, combined with the short tail, support this ID.

That is also a Blue Jay. They make soooooo many noises, and also imitate other birds. It’s kinda annoying 😂

Sorry to lump this on as well, but in my ignorance last summer I called this a Painted Turtle…

Alder Flycatcher

"White-shielded" Coots are within the range of possibility in CA. Many birds can show a variety of intermediate traits with regards to the shield/callus. That being said, I'm afraid that in your photo, the whites are just too overexposed to make an accurate call. My sense is the same as others on this thread, and that this bird is not a candidate for the "White-shielded" designation in eBird, at least without clearer pictures. However, good for you to keep an eye out on some of these subtle features that many observers overlook. Keep it up. The article written in 1988 by the person (Don Roberson) who identified and photographed the "White-shielded" bird you referenced. https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/nab/v042n05/p01241-p01246.pdf

American Avocet.

American Pipit

Green-winged Teal