Rich Stanton

I did not want to bias the group with all of my impressions, but this bird was smaller than a shoveler and larger than a Green-winged Teal, both of which were in the same patch of flooded timber as this bird. FWIW, I reported it as teal spp., in eBird, and is currently confirmed as such. It may not be identifiable to species, but it is late for Blue-winged, and the only records of Cinnamon Teal in my region and season have been unambiguous males.

Seen in Boone County Missouri on October 23, 2022. I took the warm tones and clean break to a white belly, plus unusual bill patterning and weak wing markings to mean this bird might be unusual, but perhaps it's just a Gadwall. Thoughts?

@Charlie Spencer Thanks for the clarification. Least Bittern is a tough bird for my localion and I am wondering if I really did manage to snap a picture of one while assuming I was on a Sora. I am new to carrying a camera birding, so maybe a bit unusual in that regard.

Is there a problem?

Sora or Least Bittern? Central Missouri, October 2, 2022. I think the barring on the flanks makes it a Sora, but why not ask for a second opinion?

Shorebird seen today in Central Missouri.

Blackpoll. Foot color and faint streaking on the back rule out pine & bay-breasted.

As the original poster, I don't know if I get to argue, but I am leaning Bay-breasted on these birds, partly on probability, and partly on some admittedly subjective features like nape and under-tail covert colors. Does anyone else have thoughts?

Several photos of the same or possibly two birds that for some reason have me quite stumped. None of the undertail coverts match the plates in Peterson, for example.

I'd pass on this one and wait for a better recording if it were me. Heard well, it is quite distinctive.

Gray squirrel scold.

Thirded, FWIW.

I believe Blackpoll is a significant rarity in the fall throughout the Midwest, while Bay-breasted is more common. Worth thinking on since the pair can be notorious for their similarity.

This is photo #4 with contrast cranked down, shadows lit up, and brightness increased, if it helps.