TKbird

Always on the lookout for hybrids, but this is probably just a pure Mallard. Thought I'd get some more opinions though. Thanks! TKbird

Just wanted to update that the third bird has finally been confirmed by eBird as an unusual Mallard x Northern Pintail.

I just relistened to all the likely Fringillidae on Macaulay Library, and I'm leaning Common Redpoll. Seems like their call can drift pretty buzzy, as demonstrated by this recording: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/277500991 Thanks all!

Thanks! I would generally recognize all the species mentioned so far in the field. I'll try poking around on the Macaulay library though. I typically just use allaboutbirds. Any other ideas to throw out there?

Thanks for contributing!

Thanks for the suggestions. That's all I can come up with idea-wise, but Red Crossbills and other likely irrupter EVGR are both Fringillidae (along with PUFI)! I've ruled out each bird in that family unless I'm missing something. ?

Just heard a flight call that I'm having trouble with. It sounded very finchy but I can't actually come up with a match in the Fringillidae, which leaves me confused. Here is the description I wrote down: A single call every 0.7s in flight, with one double call (though it sounded like possibly two birds). About an octave lower than a goldfinch flight call, and quite burry/buzzy. The calls reminded me of goldfinch calls in attack and structure (besides the burriness). Thanks! TKbird

That is what I concluded, at least.

Thanks again, Tony, that's very helpful.

Just want to make sure this couldn't be White-winged, as I'm not great with scoters. Thanks! TKbird

Thanks. It's great to get closure on these birds. I will continue to work on my Scaup ID! TKbird

Interesting, that was my ID in the field but I changed my mind. Thanks!!

Sorry, northwest MA. Thanks, that's quite helpful! I'm very much still working on my migrating duck ID here. In fact, if you don't mind, I'll utilize your expertise for a couple more that I have been struggling with... The first two pictures are of a bird that I'd tentatively call a Lesser Scaup. My best guess for this third picture is a transitional RNDU, but again I'm very uncertain. Thanks for your help. TKbird

Far right bird. Leaning Lesser Scaup but not confident. Thanks! TKbird

Sounds like Flicker to me, unless the blackness wasn't backlighting!

Ah, true

Sooty subspecies I think?

Wood Thrushes have a very distinctive head, as you note.

Northwestern MA, today. I could see it a bit better than the pictures (small-sensor camera), but not that well. Body looked like a Ring-necked Duck's except the underside of the rump appeared quite light when it tipped up to dive (frequent dives of 10-15s). Head-shape also similar to Ring-necked, but a medium-sized, fairly round white patch showed on the face. Difficult to judge exact shape or placement of patch. My best guess is a transitional male Bufflehead. Thanks in advance! TKbird

I'm back! It was just a 15 minute block. The quote button wasn't working so I tried logging in in a different browser, but that didn't go so well. It said I had the wrong password but I double-checked and also logged out in the first browser; still no luck! After three failed logins I got locked out in both browsers. It probably didn't help that my VPN changed locations somewhere in the middle of all that.

I know I know this... I just can't quite put my finger on it. Grrrr Thanks! TKbird call.m4a

Thanks! ? Any sense of how rare this is? There are only confirmed eBird reports at two places in NE, and some dozens worldwide, but I'm guessing they often just don't get ID'ed / confirmed.

I don't know what it is with me and hybrid ducks this year, but here's another one! Looks like a Bufflehead x Goldeneye (presumably Common) to me. It was a bit bulkier than the Buffleheads around it and maybe a tad longer. Thanks in advance! TKbird

Yep, you're right, that's my bad! I looked in several field guides but forgot that they don't list ranges. Although the tail ends of the size range are probably pretty unusual; I've never seen two Mallards together that looked 6" different!

My understanding is that all normal Mallards are approximately 23".