smittyone@cox.net

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.

Seen today in western Iowa. Is this an immature male Blue Grosbeak molting into adult feathers? I saw an all blue adult male in the area yesterday, so I believe they don't molt into all blue (minus wing bars of course) every year. Can't find any specifics on the subject in my internet search. Would this be called a first summer male?

Seen yesterday in western Iowa. I'm pretty sure these are Dickcissels. But are they females, or immature?

Seen last week in western Iowa. Was this a Savannah Sparrow I saw? The only other Sparrow I saw in the area was a Song Sparrow. Although this does have fairly heavy streaking on the breast, the yellow face patches, and eye ring are leading me toward Savannah.

Of course you two are right. I dunno why I said Indigo Bunting! Tired I guess. Is this male Blue Grosbeak in mid-molt?

Shots taken late Wednesday afternoon in western Iowa. Pics are heavily cropped and brightened (originals were underexposed). I'm pretty sure this was an Indigo Bunting, but is it a female, or a male molting?

Seen today near Missouri Valley, IA. Is this an immature Mourning Dove?

Thank you. I actually found the answer (about the feathers) after posting the question. They only display the orange head feathers during courtship, or when threatened.

Seen today North of Lincoln, NE. I believe this is a Western Kingbird. I'm confused by the orange feathers on the top of it's head. Most of the time it wasn't visible. It was perched in the shade in all of these shots, so the colors may not be true.

Seen today North of Lincoln, NE. I believe this is a Western KIngbird. However, I'm usually wrong and they end up being Great-crested Flycatchers.

Seen today North of Lincoln, NE. I believe this is a young Meadowlark. If it is, is it too early to determine if it's a Western or an Eastern one?

Seen yesterday in NW Missouri.

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?