flightman

Birds of the World, Cornell's comprehensive bird site, says (for BAOR), Juvenile (First Basic) Plumage, Sexes similar in appearance but separable by wing length. if fully grown. and In Juvenile, bill pinkish buff to tannish, gradually becoming slate gray in first few months. The bill definitely looked pinkish to me so that's why I assumed it is a juvenile.

I saw this bird this morning in Lido Beach NY. Based on the orangish color and pinkish bill (seen in the third photo), I'm guessing this is a juvenile Baltimore Oriole.

Yes, I saw it in Lido Beach in the same Mimosa tree.

Yesterday, I saw a Willow Flycatcher that I was able to identify by its distinctive call. I saw this flycatcher this morning in the same place but did not hear a call I could associate with it. Is there any reason to think it is not also a Willow (or Alder) Flycatcher?

Johnd asked, "Do different bird with this leucistic coloring have different patterns?" Yes. If you do a search for "Leucistic Canada Geese," you will see a large variation in patterns including a white body with a normal head and neck.

The last 2 were taken a week apart in the same public park this past May. They certainly show the same bird. The previous shot was taken in the same park in May 3 years earlier. The 1st one was taken in the same park in October 7 months before that. I am confident that the first 2 show the same bird and the last 2 show the same bird. The question is whether this year's bird is the same one seen in 2016 and 2017. It looks whiter around the head to me so that is why I asked the question. Canada Geese do molt every year but these don't look like molting birds to me. It or they were in the company of Canada Geese, all of which had normal plumage. In 2016 and 2017, the leucistic goose had a companion with normal plumage. Here's another shot from October 2016.

In 2016, I encountered a leucistic Canada Goose. I saw it again in the same location in 2017. This May, I again saw a leucistic Canada Goose in the same location but it appears (to me) to have more white around the head. It's difficult to image that I saw a second leucistic goose in the same place. Has the degree of leucism changed or is it my imagination? The first photo is from October 2016, the second from May 2017, and the last 2 from May 2020.

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Thanks, As I mentioned I've seen them there, but not lately. I got a photo of an adult a few miles away in July 2018, and one right here in August 2016 and again in September 2017. I'll keep an eye out for them.

I've seen Cedar Waxwings there, but infrequently and I'd be surprised if they are nesting there.

I accidentally flushed this bird out of a shrub (juniper?) this morning in Lido Beach NY. It startled me and I wasn't ready for it and didn't get a sharp photo. The area is loaded with Red-winged Blackbirds which nest there and I assumed this is a juvenile. The red gape fits, but the black lores puzzle me. Is it an RWBL?

Thanks Benjamin, The habitat is more more like the first one you describe, with no big old trees. The appearance of an OROR, though, is surprising to me, given that none have been none reported here since May 2017. Perhaps it was just out to explore the neighborhood. There was one reported about 4 miles away on June 9 in a different habitat. Of course, many birders do not post their sightings on eBird; either because they are not interested in doing so, or because they justifiably fear that reports of rare birds will bring people, not all of whom take care to avoid stressing the birds, particularly during nesting season.

Thanks, FWIW, I checked eBird and the only Orchard Orioles reported at that location in the past 5 years were a few in May. There were a few more Baltimore Orioles reported in May, and a few in June and July. Note: This is a nature preserve that is mostly salt marsh. I've been looking in the foliage between the parking lot and the marsh. Maybe the real birders are overlooking some good bird habitat, such as this Mimosa which is in a generally-unvisited corner and might be the only one in the preserve. It has quite a bit of bird activity.

Thanks everyone. This is my first photo of an Orchard Oriole. Now I have to try for an unobstructed shot, something i have not accomplished for Baltimore Orioles either.

Thanks, It occurred to me that it might be a female Common Yellowthroat but it doesn't have the abrupt change in color from yellow to brown near the head. I've seen a male in the same tree a few times lately. Is that a possibility?

There were a few of these hopping around in a Mimosa tree this morning in Lido Beach NY. I couldn't get a clear shot showing the wings. I think it looks sort of like a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, except that it doesn't appear to have an eye ring and I think it's about a month early for them to appear here this far south. I'm stymied.

Thanks, I considered a Catbird, but didn't know they could be this brown. I did see several adults in the area this morning.

This bird, seen this morning in Lido Beach NY, looks browner than I expected any common local bird with which I am familiar to be. Perhaps the early-morning light is making it look redder than it is. Is it a juvenile Mockingbird?

Thanks hbvol50 and Benjamin.

I took this photo this morning in Lido Beach NY, about 50 yards from the edge of a salt marsh. Over the last 5 years, the vast majority of sightings of similar birds reported there in July on eBird are of Willow Flycatchers and just a few listed as Empidonax. No Alders. Am I safe to assume it is a Willow although I did not hear its voice? Or is it something else entirely?

OK, I should have asked if it was female (of any age) or a juvenile male.

Thanks.

Last Thursday, July 2, I posted 2 photos of what turned out to be a female House Finch. I took this photo this morning in the same place, Lido Beach, NY and it looks quite similar, but it is much buffier. Is it a female or juvenile House Finch? The early morning light, 6:55 a.m., might have caused a yellowish color cast.

Aah, thanks again. I saw a male House Finch in the area but didn't think of it when I saw this.

This bird, seen in Lido Beach NY this morning, isn't showing much in the way of head markings. Is it a Song Sparrow, maybe juvenile?