pointreyesbirder

Seen two weeks ago at Lafitte's Cove on Galveston Island. Seems like a Wood Thrush, but perhaps a Hermit? Hermits are browner out west, so the tail shows a sharper red contrast there. This one has little contrast, so I would guess a Wood Thrush. Also seems larger than a Hermit. Thoughts? Wanted to double-check. Thanks for the help.

This was seen two weeks ago in Galveston at Lafitte's Cove. No eye-ring, high wingbar contrast, pale lower mandible, longish bill. Really don't know what to make of it. I guess either an EWP or Triall's? No vocalizations. That tail is odd. Thanks for the help.

Thanks @DLecy. Great to know. All About Birds also has this description, attached. That's where I was coming up with the length differential as an indicator. But it sounds like the inner primaries is the proper way to tell. Appreciate the help.

Hopefully not over-posting today, but this hummingbird was seen last Sunday on Galveston Island. I am new to that area and -- when choosing between Ruby-throated and Black-chinned females -- am learning what the relative difference in length btw the wing and tail might indicate. Noting picture 1, for example, does that similar length btw those two indicate a Black-chinned? Or do the wings need to be definitively longer than the tail? 6 pictures of the same bird. It turned around. Thanks for the education.

Seen a week ago on Galveston Island at Lafitte's Cove. Didn't catch a vocalization, nor see the front. Without the eye ring, seems like an Alder/Willow or an EWP? But then the lower mandible is all pale, which isn't right for an EWP, nor is the strong wingbar contrast shown here, I believe. Thoughts? Thanks for the help.

Seen a week ago on Galveston Island. With that long tail, I assume an immature Coopers or Sharp-shinned. Any ideas which? Second shot is only picture that showed anything of the front. Thanks for the help.

Seen today in central CA, San Benito County, in the Panoche valley overlooking a creek. In the county in last two weeks they've only seen Ash-throated, Pac Slope, Olive-Sided and W Wood-Pewee. Not great photos, but looks like thin eye ring, long primary extensions, dark lower mandible, wide tail, high wingbar contrast, shallow forehead angle. I would guess Olive sided? Wish I had seen the front. But could be a WWP, perhaps, if that isn't an eye ring. Thoughts? Appreciate the help.

Seen yesterday in Mitchell Canyon on Mt Diablo in SF easy bay. This is a Hammond's, right? Dark lower mandible, thin/limited eye ring, thin tail width, bill's the right length, and what appear to be long primary extensions. But head is a bit rounder than usual and vest is a bit darker than usual. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the back and it didn't vocalize. Other candidate would be Pac Slope. But the lower mandible and eye ring would seem to indicate it's not that. Thanks for the help.

Similarly, this loon was seen yesterday morning at Bodega Bay, CA on the north shore. I believe a Common, right? The dirtier face gave pause for a possible Pacific and can't quite be sure if it has a pale collar or not. Thanks for the insights.

Seen from far away yesterday morning towards the channel at Campbell Cove in Bodega Bay, CA. A grebe of some kind. Leaving in the larger shot for a size comparison. One zoomed photo has not been brightened, the other has. Seen there in the past few days have been Horned, Eared, and Red-necked. Thoughts? Thanks for the insights.

Seen today by shore of east SF Bay. Leaving the willets in the picture for a size comparison. I'm sure it's a very simple answer. Looks like a least sandpiper, but isn't the orange leg color wrong, as opposed to olive yellow? Or am I over-thinking this (e.g., the eared grebe post 20 min ago)? Always appreciate the great help! Enjoy Thanksgiving.

Seen this morning close-in by the rocks on the east shore of the SF Bay (Hayward Reg Shoreline). An Eared Grebe? The bill shape and the eye color - orange, not red - makes me question that a bit. Thanks for the help.

Well said! I, of course, was kidding. It's a great deal of fun... Thanks for the help!

I didn't at golf....

Well, exactly. So the combination of the eye ring and slight streaking was confusing. I didn't know males could have the eye ring. But, as stated, I don't know much in this area.

Thanks for the explanation - yes, should have mentioned female Yellows, as well as immatures. Sibley's illustrations don't show that eye ring well in the BOWest book, but Cornell's photos online certainly do.

Two years into this hobby, it isn't getting easier - should have stayed with golf. This is surely a simple ID. Initially thought these two were Nashvilles due to the eye ring, but then the striping on the belly causes second thoughts. And the heads seemingly aren't grey enough? Yet the color and bill seem to rule out an immature Yellow Warbler. Seen Saturday morning in SE Marin County by the shore, north of San Rafael. Thanks in advance for the insights - this forum is a great help.

Seen this morning in the shade by the shore north of San Rafael in SE Marin County. The two usual suspects at this time of year at this location would be Pac Slope and Willow. Due to the limited eye ring, pale lower mandible, peakish crown, and medium primary extensions, I would say this is a Willow? Thanks for the help.

Thanks for the insights. Unfortunately no other shots of this one - it was seen at Pinckney Island next door to Hilton Head if that helps.

This was seen three weeks ago on the southern SC coast. Believe it is a juvenile light Red-tailed. Couldn't see the tail. It wasn't terribly close, but the size and shape also made me think perhaps it might be a red-shouldered? And it doesn't yet have the white chest of the Red-tailed. Thanks for the help.

This was seen mid-day yesterday in the East SF Bay foothills of Mt Diablo foraging on the ground and then moving through a nearby tree. It could be an easy one, but I don't recognize the plain head. Perhaps an immature? Thanks for the help.

Seen in late April in the way, way east SF Bay mountains, towards Paterson, CA. A basic question - is this a (female) tricolored blackbird, as opposed to redwing blackbird? I think so due to the level of streaking. But wanted to double-check. Thanks for the help.

OK. We see Bullock's and Hooded in May - female Hooded would seem to fit, incl the less pronounced wingbars.

This bird was seen the first week of last May in the SF East Bay suburbs near Mt Diablo. It flew in solo, rummaged through this buckeye, and then quickly flew off. Hard to see in the poor photo, but it seemed more elongated than a usual warbler and didn't have the heavy wingbars of a lesser or american goldfinch. Didn't make a sound. Any thoughts on other potentials? Not much to go on, I know. Thanks for the help.

This was seen Sunday in Southern Texas on the Gulf. Seems a bit different than the many Clapper Rails seen that day, with less gray on the cheek, darker cap and redder neck. Is this a King or Clapper Rail? Thanks for the help.