MWM

Still not good at telling these two species apart, thinking this is a sharp-shinned? Size seemed to be a little in-between, making it harder to tell.

Age old question, wasn't able to see the nail on the bill.

With the wide range of size of Canada Geese, (25" to 45" per Sibley's) I don't think you can tell if this is a Ross's or Snow Goose by comparison. If it was in a flock of Snow Geese, it would obviously be a Ross's. A closer look at the bill might help.

Had a couple nesting pairs of GHOW last several years in the area, also a lot of winter gulls, I'm located about 35-40 miles south of Lake Ontario in the Finger Lakes region. Currently enjoying a couple Tufted Ducks in the area, but this year has been so mild, not as many wintering gulls. This Glaucous is first-off-the-year for me, & still need a Lesser Black-back, which are usually around.

Compared to the Herring Gull, it seems larger so guessing it's a Glaucous?

Maybe it's another Roughie - this one was in the same area 1/2 hour earlier. 🙂

Red-shouldered aren't exceptionally rare around here, usually see them in migration, which seems to be starting here. Just picked up N. Shoveler & Sandhill Crane (first of the year) a mile or 2 from this raptor. Couldn't get any better shots - snowing too hard, but here is the best I got.

Just not sure about this one. (Photo taken during a snowstorm, not best quality).

Now it looks like a juvenile Bald Eagle. 🙂

A Common Loon would have a thicker & straighter bill (RTLO is more slender & slightly upturned). There are also differences in the amount of white on the throat/neck, but I'll leave that to the experts to cover.

Sorry for re-posting, but never received any answers. Think either lesser or Great Black-backed Gull (juvenile)?

Can't be positive from this view, but most likely Black-capped Chickadee (Carolina or Boreal would be very rare).

Same thought, mantle looks too light for Great BB, IMO Lesser Black-back Gull.

Bump - still looking for any ideas on 2nd pic (sitting gull) possible lesser/great black-back?

In a mixed flock of Horned Larks & Snow Buntings I picked out a couple I'm not sure of. Only able to use manual focus so images aren't very clear. First pic referring to bird in the center, 2nd two pics (same bird) to the right of snow bunting.

The first pic I think are 2 Iceland Gulls (left one sitting, right one standing). Not sure which Black-back is in the 2nd pic.

Thanks, just goes to show you, pay attention to your surroundings. 🙂 Same thing happened to me last week, going through sparrow photos & a Red-winged Blackbird shows up in one of the frames.

I was taking pics (after sunset) of the Long-tailed Ducks. Didn't notice the Loon until I got the pic on the computer. Any way to tell if it's Common or Red-throated? (Leaning towards Common, any other than COLO/RTLO would be rare).

Thanks all, the 1st bird I had listed as Cackling (Ebird) and the 2nd as Canada/Cackling so think I'll leave it at that. This was my first Cackling for the year, along with Pied-billed Grebe & Rough-legged Hawk for Feb 1. Not sure what this weekend will bring, 45º today, -8º tomorrow night?

2 different birds, wondering if 1 or both would be considered Cackling Geese?

Was wondering about this male Hooded Merganser (odd coloration) and the lone female, whether Common or Red-breasted?

Wondering about Sibley's saying coarse, brown streaks for Sharpie, and thin, dark streaks for Cooper's.

I thought this was a Cooper's Hawk, but per Sibley's Sharp-shinned juveniles have broad, brownish streaking. That has me questioning my ID.

Here's a heavily cropped pic, bill is more like a snow goose. Thinking ross x snow hybrid or Lesser Snow Goose?

If you can't tell which one I'm referring to, it probably isn't a Ross's. 🙂