Leaderboard

Goldfinch

Raven in Yellowstone.

Reposting because the above photo was deleted. @Aveschapines Could you please delete the post above? Thanks!! Praying Mantis by The Bird Nuts, on Flickr

Double-crested Cormorant IMG_2227 by Wayne J Smith, on Flickr IMG_2228 by Wayne J Smith, on Flickr

Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

Sorry to be a little scarce lately! I had some major internet problems and the September craziness is in full swing (the 15th is Independence Day here, and we have activities all month long). But I've deleted the ID requests that were reposted, as well as @Charlie Spencer's replies to them and my own. @Shazam, I hid your post rather than deleting it, bcause you haven't reposted the ID request. If you need the post back let me know.

"Wanna piece of me??!!?? Huh?? Well, come on! I'm ready!!!!" IMG_2312-001 by Wayne J Smith, on Flickr

Hard to decide...... Yellow-billed Magpie IMG_2319-001 by Wayne J Smith, on Flickr or Black Phoebe. IMG_2304-001 by Wayne J Smith, on Flickr

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59663691 Found a first county record American Redstart in my yard!

Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, and American Avocet. Jury’s still out on the peeps I saw, which are guaranteed lifers.

Why is the title now Whatbird’s Young mathematicians? Because I’m not sure I apply anymore. Lol

Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray.

It occurs to me that whenever I see a bird rendered particularly unattractive by molt, that it's almost always a male. Obviously that doesn't apply to species where the sexes look the same. This male AMGO reminded me that I see far more male Bald-Headed Cardinals and Patchy Eastern Bluebirds than female ones. Is it just me, or does it seem that way to anyone else? Is there a research grant or doctoral thesis available to a Young Birder?

I think we are being watched!

Yes, this is a European Starling. It's a juvenile (just hatched this summer) partway through molting into its adult plumage. It's common for them to look like this around August and September.

I recently saw this group of three grouse in Manning Provincial Park in British Columbia. Of course, the first thought would be that they are likely the same species, but I am not totally sure of that. In the second part of the video, I am presuming that is a ruffed grouse. Originally, I thought the two at the beginning were sooty? But now I wonder if they are ruffed also? The two at the beginning don't seem to have a mottled enough plumage to match pictures I see of different species. If anyone is able to help, it is greatly appreciated! Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l58Afxmq3IQ

Of course! Nobody had asked before 😄

Northern Mockingbird by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr

MN, Rose-brested Grosbeak. The thing on it's head is a seed that was blowing around, in a few frames, and just landed there temporarily .

Heron Hairdryer 😄

Fascinating observation, Charlie. Now that I think of it, I really did observe, but not question, that point. I really don't know much about molts, but it might have to do with many factors. In many species, the males are the only ones with the colorful plumages, and the female is nearly the same year-round. The nonbreeding plumage of males may also very similar to the female year-round plumage. I also observed that adult female plumages are usually similar to juvenile plumages. This brings up some points. I just think that in many cases, it's our perception that brings this observation. For example, if a female American Goldfinch was molting in the OP's post, it "almost" would have been looking the same. Consider this image I found on the internet that seems like the female goldfinch is going through breeding/nonbreeding plumage molt: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-female-american-goldfinch-on-feeder-in-spring-plumage-molt-75048176.html. Note that the bird looks almost the same as a "normal" bird would. This is quite interesting. So maybe many of the birds on this forum and from your personal observations were just ones that look odd and that you caught your eye on. I would not really catch my eye on a female goldfinch molting. I would think it is pretty much normal and ignore it. However, if I saw the bird the OP saw, I would really be interested, you know? And my observation might have to do with females between seasons and juvenile-female molt. A juvenile-male molt and a molt of males between seasons are usually easier to catch my eye on. As the case for cardinals, I still think it has to do a little with what I was talking about, but it might have to do with hormones as well. These were just my thoughts - they definitely don't have to be correct.

100% of the one time a friend of mine got bitten by a cormorant, he got an annoying infection. I was partly going by that. I'm glad to know the odds aren't so bad, but the chance of a simple infection would still induce me to use antibiotic cream or something.

I used to be troubled by belligerent squirrels raiding my six bird feeders. Two are filled with BOSS, one with suet, one with nyjer, and two with nectar for the hummingbirds. I used to hurl an ice cube at them from the upper deck but they ignored that. Now I bang on the guard rail with a steel rod to get their attention and hurl a fistful of ice cubes in their direction. Lately, they flee when they hear the banging. That's good enough for me. It saves the ice for my summer drinks.

Actually, this looks like a Wilson's Phalarope to me.

I'm leaning toward Bay-breasted on this one. The streaking is a bit more prominent than I would expect to see on an Orange-crowned and the color is more tan-yellow rather than greenish-yellow. It's not a Pine - they have dark cheeks, more prominent eye arcs, and blurrier streaking.

That is a young Sharp-shinned Hawk. They are a bit more compact with rounder heads and larger eyes than Cooper's Hawks and they have denser, blotchier streaking than a Cooper's at this age.

Following @Seanbirds 's example! Whatbird has a list of habitats so it'd be good to follow that: https://www.whatbird.com/browse/attribute/birds_na_147/113/Habitat/ Gambel's Quail: Sage Thrasher:

These are nonbreeding adult/immature Forster's Terns. Juveniles, immatures, and nonbreeding adults have a black "mask," and this black does not extend to the nape as a Common respectively would. Also, note that Commons would have more black on the wingtips.

1. The pale crescents near the wingtips suggest Red-shouldered Hawk. 2. I'm thinking female Indigo Bunting.

Agree with Western

Rock Wren: Canyon Wren:

Yes, these are nonbreeding adult/immature Bay-breasted Warblers. Note the large, bulky appearance. While breeding males have a black face, tan patch on the neck, and chestnut crown, throat, and flanks, breeding females are duller. Nonbreeding females/immatures often have peachy flanks, a yellow-green head, and unstreaked underparts. Nonbreeding males have chestnut flanks and streaked upperparts. The similar Blackpoll Warbler has orange legs/feet.

😞 ... I guess no one else does either! Burrowing Owl: Vermilion Flycatcher:

I agree with Pine Siskin. It could have something stuck to its bill.

House Finch.

racoon?

But it's worse than that. I had three reports in 2018 and one report had a photo! I guess some birds aren't very memorable, at least with a memory like mine. Now if I forget my Avocets...

I've been bit, scratched, clawed, and punctured by many species of birds. Mostly Raptors, but some water birds as well. The worst thing that happened was a simple infection. Usually nothing happens.

No albatross would be found on a dock, and any albatross is nearly unheard of anywhere on the east coast. It's important to remember that size is variable in birds, by age, sex, subspecies, individual variation, etc. We often get questions here of "It looked like x bird but was so much bigger", when the photos confirm that it is x species, no question. Size is hard to judge and variable. Not all that useful in many bird identifications to be honest.

I'm tempted to call this a Hutton's Vireo. It seems too compact and big-headed for an Empid, also the facial pattern fits with the kind of stumpy almost crossed bill.

Nashvilles are tiny warblers with a distinct gray head (that contrasts well with the body), short tail, compact shape, and generally very bright yellow below. Structure is also important here- look how elongated, bulky and stocky this guy is. Mourning is one of the biggest warblers. Nashvilles are tiny little guys. Edit- Blackburnian beat me to it, but we both covered different areas of the ID.

Swamp Sparrow

I'm glad you can, because imagination is the only way I'm liable to see any wing bar color. To me, there's not enough color on the back or shoulders / coverts for this to be a Purple. It looks like a House to me, although not 'just a House Finch'. But I've been wrong for a couple of weeks; no reason I should stop now.

Raven- photo taken in Alaska

Tricolored Heron today

A young Common Yellowthroat. He stayed pretty well hidden in the wildflower garden but came out of hiding long enough to nab a few photos.

Dickcissel!