smittyone@cox.net

This flycatcher was seen in NW Missouri last week. Is it an Eastern Wood Peewee?

This is an adult male and an immature Grackle seen in NW Missouri last week. Although Common Grackle are by far the most prominent type seen in this area, I've seen (verified) Great-tailed here before too. Perhaps it's just the angle, but the tail on the adult seems extra long, leading me to think it's perhaps a Great-tailed one. Opinions?

Images captured last week at Loess Bluffs NWR in NW Missouri. The bird in the middle is a young Barn Swallow. Like all young Swallows, it'd open it's mouth anytime another bird would be near, as if to say "please shove a bug in there". The two birds flanking it were being bullies and pecking at it, and in one instance even knocked it off it's perch. The two lighter colored birds, are they even younger Barn Swallows that hadn't attained their "adult" plumage? Or are they adults going through molting?

Seen last Monday at Loess Bluffs NWR near Mound City, MO. I think the one on the left is an immature Hooded Merganser, Is the one following an adult female? Heavily cropped pics.

Thank you. I looked at pics of both (Cornell Labs) but just couldn't pick out the differences.

I understand both Eastern and Western types are seen in my area. This one was seen today at Saint Mary's Island WMA, south of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Thank you. Why would only one have the light face markings? Is the other slightly older?

They don't look like the Mourning Doves I'm used to seeing. They seem smaller, darker, and browner. They were seen this afternoon at Saint Mary's Island WMA, south of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Seen today at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. Can I assume this is a Great Crested Flycatcher?

Seen today at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. Both pics are of the same bird. Is this a Western KIngbird or a Great Crested Flycatcher?

Both birds seen today at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. I believe the first one to be an immature male Baltimore Oriole and the 2nd paler bird to be an adult female Baltimore Oriole. Am I correct?

Seen today at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA.

Sorry, but all Flycatchers look the same to me. Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA.

I understood from previous postings here that both Alder and Willow were in my area. And that the two were indistinguishable (except by song). Therefore, typically they're just caller Traill's, as that encompasses both. Am I wrong, or am I just being lazy?

Seen last Wednesday at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. Is this a Traill's Flycatcher?

Which Flycatcher did I see at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA, today?

Thanks everyone.

I saw these three baby ducks paddling together in an inlet to Lake DeSoto this afternoon. When they didn't feel threatened, they came close to shore. Near shore they were feeding on something under water, rarely bringing their heads above water. I saw no adult ducks in the area. But both Wood Ducks and Blue-winged Teal frequent this part of the lake. They look what I'd imagine baby Mergansers would look like. But I don't know what a baby Merganser looks like, and haven't seen any adult Mergansers in a while.

I use Chrome, but I figured it out. Thanks everyone.

Seen two weeks ago at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. What is this flycatcher?

Thanks for the info, and especially the PDF insanityslave. Dumb question, but how do I save the PDF?

Now my brain hurts. Thanks Benjamin. Just kidding. But this is a wealth of information that I'll have to look into further. I was hoping for a simple answer, but as you pointed out, there really aren't any simple answers. THIS is why I come to this site.

So let's muddy the waters a bit, shall we? I learned a while back to stop calling Bald Eagles that weren't yet adults all as juveniles. I reserve the juvenile moniker for when they haven't fledged yet. I'm probably wrong in doing that. But when does an eagle stop being an eaglet? When it's no longer fuzzy and gets it's flight feathers? I'm fairly confident that I can age an eagle by plumage as 2, 3, or 4 years old, and will start calling 4 year olds as sub-adults. By my logic, if it's almost an adult, it's a sub-adult. Not gunna call 'em teenagers. I'm not trying to become an expert in all things eagle. But when I post a bird image online somewhere, I like to be as accurate as possible as to what I call it. Age, sex, breeding plumage, etc.

Thank you very much. That was precisely the answer I was seeking.

Thank you. But that wasn't the question I asked.