Jim Highberger

One quick identifier on these is the tail forks or tips - mature Barn Swallows have a true "swallow" tail with two tips that extend to a point about the same length as wing tips when perched as in your photos.

Thank you both for input. I'll report it as Eastern Wood-Pewee. Thanks!

Only got one look at flycatcher type bird - landed on branch then took off for flying insect. This was sighted at Eagle Lake, Texas - about 60 miles west of Houston. Initially thought it was Eastern Wood-Pewee but wing length appears too short for Wood-Pewee. Belly appears yellowish. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers are occasional visitors to this area this time of year according to eBird (as are Acadians and Leasts) - Eastern Wood-Pewees are more common. Could not get a look at lower mandible. Any ideas on this would be appreciated. Thank you!

In the first photo there appears to be a color differentiation between the head "cap" and the nape. Nape appears lighter, grayer, which would normally point to Cooper's. Breast streaking with Cooper's can be more brownish than red as with Sharp-shinned. Always tough to tell with these so I would wait for other opinions before concluding one or the other.

Thank you all! While faint I think I can see evidence of band around mid-section. I appreciate everyone's input.

Hawk sitting in tree 100 yards from beach near Sabine Pass. No clearing markings that I can see on face or throat. eBird lists Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, White-tailed, Swainson's and Broad-winged as "infrequent". Could not get accurate gauge on size - might be Merlin? Seemed larger than Merlin to me. Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated. Thank you!

Thanks - Great-crested makes sense. Bird was in distance so I could not sense size. By enhancing photos I can detect orange-ish hue to outer wing feathers. Thanks!

These always seem to be a dilemma for me. Spotted what I thought was possibly an Acadian Flycatcher - flat forehead, two white bars olive-brown back. Eye-ring very faint. There is a trace of orange on lower mandible but not as much as normally on Eastern Pewee. Migration well underway for Empids and Wood=Pewees. So, is this an Acadian or another Empid? Any suggestions or input would be appreciated. Thank you!

Thanks to all on this. Wish I could send the Clay-colored to Nashville for you - lucky to see one here! Again, thanks!

In a grassy area near woodlands there were a couple dozen sparrows mixed together - House Sparrows were present but a few of the sparrows appeared different in coloration, notably lighter. I am attaching photos - the first two have some similarities to Clay Colored Sparrows which are migrating. They all have the short white wing bar typically seen on House Sparrows. The last two photos may just be immature House Sparrows? But the prominent white eyebrow and light coloration has me seeking the advice of experts. Thank you!

Couch's typically have a slightly shorter bill with more of a rounded end than the Tropical I believe. I think the bird in picture is a Couch's.

Just to get discussion started, and I admit to needing help on hawk identification many times, I do think this is an immature Copper's. Attached is a photo found on web for immature Cooper's Hawk in flight. Very similar. Also attaching a couple photos of an immature Cooper's I saw this morning here in Houston. Hopefully some of the experts will weigh in on this for you.

Sorry about photos - found a few more that have better detail. I think you are right about Broad-winged - start of migration - I wasn't expecting to see these. Thank you!

There was another hawk further away that looked similar - only got one photo - please see attached. Sorry about quality.

Having trouble conclusively identifying hawk in attached pictures. Number of "fingers" on wing tips not consistent with Red-shouldered and wing flex motion seems unusual. Other traits might suggest Red-shouldered but I still am uncertain. Please let me know if I am on the right or wrong track. Thank you!

Thanks all for inputs. The variances and concerns that you present are why I asked for assistance. Based on numbers and season the Orang-crowned was about the only identification that I could make. Thank you!

Thanks to all! As always, very insightful and helpful in future birding.

Thanks for input. I could not detect any noticeable eye-ring so ruled out Nashville. But I could be wrong on this. There does seem to be a white leading edge to wing where it attaches to body - this is typical of Orange-crowned Warblers I believe. It is the darkness of the bird that has me perplexed - but it might be due to shade. Thank you!

Note: mis-typed - color is very dark (not day). Thank you!

Attached photos taken at High Island 3-13-22. Looks like Orange-crowned warbler except color is very day. Yellowish underneath but top side, wings, etc. seem very dark. Lighting not the best, taken in shade, but size, shape, behavior, etc. seems to indicate Orange-crowned. Am I correct? Note: early stages of spring migration underway here so it may be something else. Thank you.

They are seen in city parks, on golf courses, on baseball fields, etc. around here especially after rainfall.

Appears to be Eastern Phoebe to me.

Thank you all!

I was able to get several looks at the hawk in attached photos. In large city park in Houston, chasing small birds. Tail long and it was eventually chased away by mature Red-shouldered Hawk, which was slightly larger by comparison. Tail long, rounded, and with white at tips but I think that applies to both young Red-shouldered and Cooper's? Nape of neck not pale as near as I could tell. Thank you all for your review of these questions and photos.

Thanks all! They are uncommon here too - especially to find one sitting on a fence post out in the open at 9:45 AM about 100 yards from the beach. Dumb luck but glad to add to my life list.