smittyone@cox.net

This Wren was seen yesterday afternoon in western Iowa. My question is regarding their tail feathers (or lack thereof). I've noticed this seems pretty common with Dickcissels right now too. Do these birds completely lose their tail feathers and grow brand new ones every year? Or is it only immature birds I'm seeing growing their very first tail feathers?

Seen late yesterday afternoon in western Iowa. When they're female/immature, they both look the same to me. It seemed Grosbeak-sized since Buntings are about finch-sized, right?

That's No. 202! Got 201 (a Sora) today too!

First 2 pics are the same bird. My initial thought was a Carolina Wren, but now I'm thinking possibly a Marsh Wren? LIkely because it would be another Lifer bird. The 3rd pic is (I think) a House Wren.

Seen late this afternoon in western Iowa. It darted out of the weeds onto a farm road, then darted back into the weeds. There's little water in the area with most roadside ditches and farm ponds all but dried up. If it's not a Sora, my 2nd guess would be a Virginia Rail. Either bird would be a Lifer for me.

Followup question. Is this Dickcissel an adult female?

Seen late this afternoon in western Iowa. It's definitely an immature Finch and not an immature Sparrow. Options in my area are Goldfinch (definitely not), House (likely), or Purple (never seen one). What was odd was that it seemed to cast an orange-ish tone. I think that's what's throwing me off.

Seen late this afternoon in western Iowa. It seemed to have a "rusty orange" cast to it.

Seen today in western Iowa. Pics were taken at dusk, shot at a very high ISO, so I'm sure the colors aren't very accurate.

Saw these guys today at dusk in western Iowa. Two larger ones and 4 or 5 smaller ones. They'd run in and out of the weeds along the side of the road. I never heard them make a sound.

Well, in that case, this makes Lifer bird No. 200 for me! Yeah! Thanks you guys.

It was seen yesterday morning in a flooded farmer's field in NW Missouri. The only other shorebirds nearby were the ever-present Killdeer. This bird was smaller than the Killdeer, but not as tiny as a Least Sandpiper.

Thanks! This is only the 2nd time I've seen one.

Seen this morning in NW Missouri. What kind of Warbler or Vireo was this? Didn't get a shot of the front. It's belly appeared yellowish.

Seen yesterday in NW Missouri. There were about 3 dozen of them, with no clear stand-outs that would help distinguish male from female/immature. Other than plain-ish looking dabblers, I narrowed them down to possibly Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, or Green-winged Teal. Because I don't know what non-breeding males of these 3 types look like, I'm left comparing female/immature--which all look the same to me.

I'm certain that this bird, seen in Western Iowa on Monday, is a Common Grackle. I'm also 95% sure it's a male. My question is whether it's an immature male molting into it's adult plumage? Or is it an adult male during it's seasonal/annual molt? Although I do see what I believe to be a fleshy gape, which would indicate an immature bird. The fleshy gape is not yellow, like I'm used to seeing in most immature birds.

I have difficulty distinguishing female Baltimore from female Orchard Orioles. I haven't seen any Baltimore Orioles in a while--not males anyway. What throws me off is how orange one bird is (1st and 2nd pics are the same bird) vs. how yellow the other bird is (3rd and 4th pic are the same bird). Seen yesterday morning within about 5 minutes of each other, in western Iowa, just north of Council Bluffs.

Seen late this afternoon north of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Is this an Eastern Phoebe? Also, is it a juvenile?

Thanks everyone.

Seen late this afternoon at DeSoto NWR, near Missouri Valley, Iowa. Possibly the same bird I posted a few minutes ago. It flew from a higher perch onto this felled tree trunk, then stayed there motionless for nearly a minute. Any idea what this behavior is??

Seen late this afternoon at DeSoto NWR, near Missouri Valley, Iowa. Which Flycatcher is this?

Thanks! That's a new Lifer bird for me today. Yeah!

Saw this guy by himself on a power line in NW Missouri this afternoon. This was along a rural farm road--no nearby bodies of water, that I know of. I haven't seen any shorebirds in a couple of months. And I've NEVER seen any kind of shorebird sit on a powerline before. Weird. My closest guess is a Lesser Yellowlegs. Sorry--side, back, and underneath were the only angles I could get on this guy.

Seen this morning in SE Nebraska. Is this a Warbling Vireo? Who knew they had blue feet?

This bird was seen near a noticeably larger Great Egret, yesterday in NW Missouri. Although I never saw the feet, I think this may be a Snowy Egret. It'd be a Lifer bird for me if it was a Snowy.