[Barrow’s or common goldeneye?]

2 hours ago, Ed hogg said:

Female Goldeneyes can be extremely hard to tell apart. If I had to guess I would say Common, but like I said they are very hard to tell apart so I am not sure.

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.

[Barrow’s or common goldeneye?]

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!

[Swallow - cave or cliff?]

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.

[Swallow - cave or cliff?]

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

Anyone else?

[Swallow - cave or cliff?]

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!

[Loud whistle from a Florida cypress swamp]

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

[Loud whistle from a Florida cypress swamp]

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

[Loud whistle from a Florida cypress swamp]

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

[Song ID… finch or sparrow?]

3 hours ago, chipperatl said:

Horned Lark?

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!

[Song ID… finch or sparrow?]

1 hour ago, meghann said:

If there were reeds nearby, I'd say Marsh Wren.

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

[Song ID… finch or sparrow?]

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

[Orange-crowned warbler?]

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

[Orange-crowned warbler?]

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!

[Baird’s sandpiper]

7 minutes ago, AlexHenry said:

Hmm now I’m flip flopping back to Bairds. I guess it’s just really hard to tell 

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

[Baird’s sandpiper]

1 minute ago, AlexHenry said:

Why not a White-rumped Sandpiper? (Which is much more common)

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

[Baird’s sandpiper]

Thanks everyone!

[Baird’s sandpiper]

1 hour ago, Hasan said:

It does indeed look like Baird's

Cool, thank you!

[Baird’s sandpiper]

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!

[Gray-cheeked or Bicknell's thrush??]

2 hours ago, The Bird Nuts said:

This is a Swainson's Thrush.  I can clearly see a buffy eyering and supraloral bar on my monitor.

Yeeeeeaaaah, you guys may be right.

[Gray-cheeked or Bicknell's thrush??]

7 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said:

Wow, so cool that you get Bicknell's! I think they only breed in remote areas.

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.

[Gray-cheeked or Bicknell's thrush??]

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

[Gray-cheeked or Bicknell's thrush??]

12 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said:

Pretty sure it's a Gray-cheeked.

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? 

[Lesser black-backed gull?]

10 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said:

Agreed.

Thank you as well!

[Lesser black-backed gull?]

Awesome, thank you so much! First one I've ever seen in the northeast!

[Gray-cheeked or Bicknell's thrush??]

Anybody out there good with thrushes of the northeast? I saw this bird in Rye, NH today. Best guess is Gray-cheeked/Bicknell's. I think I can rule out the other thrushes since there's no reddish or buffy tinges on the face or body and no (or only a very narrow) eye ring. If I'm right, does anyone have any thoughts on whether this is a Bicknell's or gray-cheeked? I know it's almost impossible to differentiate between the two without hearing the bird sing, but I've heard some people can distinguish them based on bill color. The photos are only so-so (a little overexposed around the head and throat).

Thanks as always!