Brett H

Hi everyone, I posted these recordings a couple of months ago but didn’t get too far. I recorded this bird on 11/1/2021 at dawn at Bird Rookery Swamp in Naples, Florida. Try to ignore the clicking sound of my car’s engine! I’ve spent some time today trying to figure out what this is. The closest match seems to be black-bellied whistling duck. It’s not identical to calls of that species I’ve listened to online, but it’s close. Am I right or wrong?? Thanks for your help! BBWD.m4a BBWD 2.m4a

@chipperatl, unfortunately this was the only shot I have. I lost the bird in the gigantic swells right after I noticed it might not be a common goldeneye. Thanks to everyone for weighing in! I guess I can't definitively say this is a Barrow's so I entered it into eBird as a common/Barrow's.

Thanks @Ed hogg. I know it’s most likely a common given I found it on the east coast. But I’m hoping someone will tell me it’s a Barrow’s.

I saw the bird in the attached photo today (1/17) on the coast in Rye, NH after a storm. The bill and head shape look good for Barrow’s, but the bill color points to common. There were 50+ common goldeneyes in the same area, so there’s always the possibility of a Barrow’s being mixed in. Any thoughts? I’d appreciate the help!

Here’s another one I saw from the same general area the day before. It was with some barn swallows so that’s what I assumed it was, but I see now that it’s either a cave or a cliff given the pale/light orange ramp and square-ish tail.

Thanks! I think it looks more like a cave, but they are rare for this location/time-of-year. Anyone else?

I know these photos are poor, but can you tell if they are of either a cave or cliff swallow (or something else)? These were taken on November 5 in Bonita Springs, FL. Thanks!

Maybe this will help… I cropped the recording to get rid most of the background noise. I can hear four separate whistled notes with the final one lasting the longest. Unknown.m4a

Thanks for trying! I was thinking it sounded like a Baltimore oriole or a fox sparrow. I guess this is a tough one.

Hello, I heard the song in the attached file this morning (30 minutes before sunrise) in a forested wetland in Naples, FL. The loud, musical, multiple-note whistle is clearest at about the 3 and 6 seconds marks on the recording. Thanks advance! I’m not very familiar with birds from this part of the country, so I apologize if this is something very common and boring. Shady Hollow Blvd W.m4a

Yup, I think you all nailed it. I see them frequently in the dead of winter, but I can’t remember hearing one sing. Thanks for the help!

That’s a good thought, but this was on a rocky beach among thick patches of goldenrod and ragweed.

Hello all, I heard the bird in the attached recordings this morning in coastal New Hampshire. It was very windy, so they’re not the best recordings. But you can hear the finch-like song pretty clearly. Any idea what it might be? Thanks! Song1.m4a Song2.m4a

Thanks for all your input! Unfortunately, that’s the only shot I managed where you can see the bird’s head.

I saw this bird today at Odiorne State Park in Rye, New Hampshire. I think I can rule out other lookalike species (Nashville warbler, common yellowthroat). Am I right? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Yeahhhh, I wish I was able to get a better photo in better lighting before some people spooked it. Thanks for taking the time!

Could be, but I initially ruled it out because I can’t see any streaks on the flanks.

Thanks everyone!

Cool, thank you!

I saw this bird yesterday at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in coastal Massachusetts. The bird was bigger than a peep and smaller than nearby stilt sandpipers. I wish I was able to get a better photo, but this was the best I could do. The overall size, bill size and shape, markings on the neck and chest, and leg color has me thinking Baird’s sandpiper. However, I’m not sure the photo is good enough for me to make that call. Your thoughts are appreciated!

Yeeeeeaaaah, you guys may be right.

Yup, high-elevation spruce-fir forest. Part of my job is to survey for them every June. They’re easy to find in the right habitat.

Sweet, I’ll take it. I see and hear Bicknell’s all summer long in the mountains. Gray-cheeked is a lifer.

Thanks, good to know. I guess the odds are good it’s a gray-cheeked since there are way more of them in the world. Are you seeing any decent field marks in these photos?

Thank you as well!