[Commong Nighthawk or Eastern Whip-poor-will - Philadelphia, PA]

Hello,

My friend saw this bird in the Kensington area of Philadelphia last Friday afternoon (July 15) . Not anywhere close to a park. I have never seen a nightjar or nighthawk so I'm not sure what it is. But I thought it was a nightjar because the tails aren't the swallow-ish pointed tails that are the trait of a nighthawk. It also looks very young.

Any help is much appreciated.

[Gull help]

@IKLland Thank you! 

[Gull help]

I saw this gull while looking for the Slaty-backed Gull that showed up in NYC today. (Didn’t see it). I think this is a Great Black-backed gull - 2nd winter. Saw it in Central Park’s reservoir. 

 

 

 

[Northern Pintail? Alameda, Ca]

Hi everyone,

 

This one has me stumped. I took this photo in the lagoons around Bay Farm Island last Friday. Not sure why photo is uploading upside down! 

[August - San Jose, California Woodpecker]

@Seanbirds @PalmWarbler

arg. OK let me try again. Sorry - for some reason only the audio plays after I upload the video. Here are some other screenshots. 

 

[August - San Jose, California Woodpecker]

Hi - I recently went to San Jose and did a little backyard birding.

Is this a downy woodpecker or Nuttall's Woodpecker. I'm inclined to say the latter due to the size and the spotting on the back. These are screenshots from  a little video I took.

 

[Molting Northern Cardinal? Corkscrew Swamp/Naples Florida.]

Thank you @Connor Cochrane ?

 

[? swallow ?]

Barn!!! I grew up near Atwater Village - Frogtown to be exact and this makes me so happy ? Don't remember seeing swallows there back in the day.

[Molting Northern Cardinal? Corkscrew Swamp/Naples Florida.]

Evening all! My friend is in Southwest Florida and sent me a picture of another humdinger we can't figure out. She saw this mystery bird today in the Swamp Preserve.

Is it a tuftless Northern Cardinal or a Summer Tanager or even a rarity - a Ant-Tanager!

We can't figure it out. The coloring and location is off for each one of these. Can you help?

 

[Carolina Wren? Corkscrew Swamp Audobon Preserve, Florida.]

Hi everyone!

My friend saw this wee bird yesterday afternoon while birding in Corkscrew Swamp Audobon Preserve, Florida. We think it may be a young Carolina Wren or a young thrasher? Any ideas?

 

 

[hermit thrush or veery? NYC]

Oh and I saw it this afternoon in Upper West Side of NYC.

[hermit thrush or veery? NYC]

Hello everyone! Hope you all are enjoying the beginnings of Spring migration.

I have two photos of what I think is a Hermit Thrush and Veery . Usually I feel confident about spotting difference between veerys and hermit thrushes but I was  recently told to correct an ebird submission. 

Photo 1. I think is a hermit thrush. The angle isn't helping but to me the tail looks redder than the body.

Photos 2 and 3:   Veery - eye ring is more distinct at the back of the eye.

Thank you for your help!

 

[Parrot? Parrakeet? Hermosa Beach, CA]

Thank you @Connor Cochrane  @Seanbirds  - is it "definitely" a parakeet because of the long tail? I thought  red masked parakeet because of the red markings on the wings.  Thanks again

[Parrot? Parrakeet? Hermosa Beach, CA]

Hello! My friend spotted a flock of these beauties in Hermosa Beach yesterday afternoon. Is this a Red-Crowned Parrot? Or is it a parakeet? A Red-masked Parakeet?

 

Thank you!

[Ducks in Central Park]

Cool! Thank you @BirdNrd  @IKLland @Jefferson Shank ? There were SO MANY!

[Ducks in Central Park]

Happy New Year!

I went to Central Park and walked around the reservoir. Ducks and shorebirds are not my strengths when it comes to ID so I was hoping you guys could help me. Are these Ruddy Ducks? That was my guess based on bill size and shape, tail  and geography.

 

[Peregrine Falcon? NYC]

Awesome! Thank you @Avery @Seanbirds ?

[Peregrine Falcon? NYC]

Hi everyone! Hope everyone is having a tranquil, healthy holiday. I saw this bird flying overhead. I had to adjust the exposure on my camera and do some color editing. I think based on the white breast and the tail feather pattern that this is a Peregrine Falcon. But it's my first time seeing one so I'm not 100% certain.I saw it late this afternoon, before sunset in NYC - at Riverside Park.

 

 

[Cape May - Sparrow and raptor]

Cape May earlier this week and went birding through a couple areas.

I saw this Sparrow - my guess a Field Sparrow at Higbee Wildlife Management Area.  I'm thinking it is because of the un-streaked breast, pink bill and eye ring.

Later that at Cape May Point State I park I saw a couple raptor (bald eagle and ospreys!) But there was a raptor I caught on camera that I can't discern. I think it's Sharp-shinned Hawk. But I know that they closely resemble Coopers Hawk.   If I recorded it on video I could see if the flight patterns are like a sharp-shinned or a coopers - I heard that's that best way to tell.

Thanks for your help! I have learned so much from you guys!

 

[Pine Warbler, Black-Throated Blue and Blackpoll - NYC]

@The Bird Nuts  @blackburnian

Thank you!!! I looked and compared more thoroughly and yes! The thing that jumped out at me was the streaking on the back. Thank you both.

[Pine Warbler, Black-Throated Blue and Blackpoll - NYC]

@akandula  @The Bird Nuts Ahhh - OK. So is it the eye "spectacles" for the Bay Breasted?  I thought I saw slight streaking so that's why I went with Pine. 

And with the last two - I guess I they were Blackpolls because I thought they were drabber looking Pines ? I know that's not a "scientific" method of ID'ing them.

I'm not disagreeing with your IDs - I just want to learn what to look for.

Thanks guys!

[Pine Warbler, Black-Throated Blue and Blackpoll - NYC]

I was at Riverside Park this afternoon. So birdy. I used to be pretty confident about pine warblers, but after mistaking a blackpoll for a pine last time, I'm not so sure anymore.

1. Pine warbler

2. Female Pine warbler?

3. Black-throated blue

4. Black-throated blue w/out patch

5 and 6 Blackpoll Warbler

Thanks for your insight and patience everyone!

 

 

[Common Yellowthroat or Yellow Warbler]

I was out birding yesterday in NYC and saw this gooorgeous warbler. I pointed it out to another birder and said it was a yellow warbler. But he said it was a female common yellowthroat. I was a little surprised cause I felt pretty confident about my ID. Am I wrong?

[?Swainson's Thrush]

I agree. Wood Thrush!

[Sparrows and warblers in NYC]

@akandula @Connor Cochrane   Blackpoll!!! Oh my gosh. The Cape May and Blackpoll both lifers for me ?

Yay! Thank you  ?