nevsar

Any further thoughts on this?

1) Is this a Forster's Tern? In winter, I usually look for the black eyepatch in a Forster's. However, this one is showing a black cap. But given the orange legs, I can't think of any tern besides Forster's (I'm fairly certain Roseate Terns & Common Terns are not expected here). 2) Another Forster's Tern? Note that there is a Forster's Tern to its right (with the expected black eyepatch), and a Caspian Tern further right.

Thanks akiley. I agree on not looking right for ruddy (the head shape and body posture looks a little off). But I'm curious how you ruled out a black scoter.

Hi All, Based on the facial marking, my first guess is a female black scoter. My second guess is a female ruddy duck. Both are expected species here (per ebird), although in recent reports, I've only seen others reporting ruddy ducks but not black scoters. What are your thoughts?

Thanks bird nuts. Not sure why I did not think of it. There is a pair in our yard.

I heard this bird in my backyard a few days back. If it wasn't winter, a common yellowthroat would have come to mind. I did not step out to see the bird because it was bitter cold. So hoping one of you can ID the bird. Thanks. warbler.m4a

Thanks sfinmt. I am also leaning the same way. That being said, the bill size and neck posture (especially in photos 1&2) is something i’ve never seen in a common loon.

Hi Folks, This was taken in Coastal MA. Pacific loons are extremely rare here, but this bird stood out to me because it looked smaller with a shorter (but thick) bill. At the same time, it seems to show a broken collar indicating a common loon. So I would like to get your thoughts. Here are two photos with another common loon:

Thanks everyone for your input.

My guess is a female American redstart, based on the wing/tail posture. Also the colors seem to match.

So do all of you think that the birds (at least two) in the first two photos are Lesser Scaups?

Yes, both are female purple finches (house finches do not have the white eyebrow).

Thanks both of you for your thoughts. The reason I think the two birds in the last photo are Greater Scaups are because of the rounded head and the short-looking neck. Whereas the birds in the first two photos have a more peaked head, and a longer-looking neck. I have always used the "peakness" of head to differentiate them. Unfortunately, the head for these birds don't looked peaked enough for me. And hence my doubts. And regarding the amount of white at the base of the bill, I've never paid attention to it. The photos that Melierax posted show a difference. Perhaps experts can tell if it is a reliable indicator or not.

Could the one in the middle (perhaps even the one on the left) be a Lesser Scaup? I'm fairly certain the two with their head raised are Greater Scaups:

Here are my thoughts: 1) Savannah Sparrow 2) Yes, Cedar Waxwings 3) Looks like a pine warbler to me as well (yellow eyering, white wingbars) 4) House sparrows 5) Yes, ruddy ducks

Thanks for the fast response ?

Need confirmations for these two birds from Chicago. 1) Vesper Sparrow - Thin white eyering, lack of yellow lores (found in Savannah). Also it's large size immediately caught my attention on the field. 2) Cooper's Hawk - Roundish tail, squarish head (although it looks slightly roundish in first photo), does not have bug-eyed look of Sharpie.

Thank you both for the very quick responses ?

Taken in Eastern MA. Hopefully, it's straightforward from the photos. [This photo was taken ~15 mins later but it's possible it's the same bird] Thanks!

Hi akiley, Thanks a lot for taking the time to help me out. W.r.t. photos, yes, they were definitely taken in May (May 25 to be precise).

Hi Folks, These were birds I saw in May this year. I believe the site was down during that time frame, and hence couldn't check with you. So hope you can help me out now. 1) Least Sandpipers? Their legs appear yellowish 2) Semipalmated sandpipers? Or Least? 3) Semipalmated sandpiper? 4) Dunlin? 5) Willet? [The big bird in middle] 6) Another Willet? [The bird on the left] Or a dowitcher? 7) I'm not sure but any chance this is a Ruff? \8) A dowitcher? 9) I thought Willet but it seems to show a broken eyering Thanks for your help.

This is great. Thanks a lot akiley. I really appreciate this help.

Thanks redcoot. Also Gadwall is an expect species here. On a separate note, I'm fairly confident #6 is a sanderling. And for #1c (and probably even #1b), I'm leaning towards white-rumped sandpiper because of the more obvious white eyebrow.

Hi Folks, I hope you can help me with these shorebirds: 1) Are all of these Semipalmated sandpipers? [Black legs. Wings tips don't extend beyond tail.] a) b) c) 2) Could this be a Baird's sandpiper? Or is it another Semipalmated sandpiper? It was on it's own. And I left the plover in there for size reference. 3) I'm not sure if it's the same bird as above (because the photos were taken at a slightly later time) but I have the same guesses 4) Could the left bird (the right bird is a dowitcher) be a stilt sandpiper? Or is it a white-rumped sandpiper? 5) Could the dowitcher above be a long-billed? [From the photo it looks bigger than the dowitcher below] 6) Sanderlings [This might be obvious] 7) Sorry for deviating from shorebirds, but what duck is this (the one with the ducklings)? I guess Gadwall. I left the duck in the top-right corner, just in case it gives any clues (it appears to have a light blue patch on wing).

I also agree with you on the saltmarsh sparrow. Thanks you two.