pdx_bird

I saw this Black-throated Sparrow at Joshua Tree NP last week with a weird eye growth - deformity? parasite? Has anyone seen this or know what this is?

Thanks again for your help Redcoot!

Seen yesterday/today, on a pond near the Oregon coast. I don't think they're Cinnamon (too small), my default thought is Green-winged but the buffy streak near the rear isn't super obvious. Blue-winged would be uncommon/rare, so I thought I'd get another opinion. Thanks!

Is that for both birds? Or just the first?

Hi all, going through some photos, I'd like to confirm I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing. Two different birds. 1. Seen September in Portland, OR. American Kestrel? (not a Merlin?) 2. And this one, October, Portland, OR. Peregrine, yes? Hummingbird for scale.

Cool, thanks Redcoot. Maybe #2 is a female Cinnamon and that's why it doesn't look like the other three.

I saw these five teal last week at Whitaker Ponds in Portland, OR. The larger-billed birds I feel good about calling Cinnamon (especially when one flashed its colorful secondaries), but there's two other questionable individuals I've highlighted. #1 I think is Blue-winged, it has a defined eye-stripe, white patch at the base of the bill, and smaller bill. #2 however, also has a smaller bill, but lacks the white patch and defined eye stripe. There was also Green-winged teal in the area, but I don't think the proportions on #2 are small enough. In the first photo it seems to stand out as smaller, but maybe it's just another Cinnamon holding its head weird? Thoughts on these two teal?

I've answered my own question by emailing one of the guides on the boat. Here's the response: #1 and #2 "The best field mark is the upper wing view. See the white primary shafts on only the two outer primaries? Diagnostic for LONG-TAILED. Thin bill also good, as is mouse brown back color." #3 "First, eliminate the one you easily can. Wing flash? Yes. That alone eliminates Long-tailed. Sharp longish tail eliminates Pomarine. PARASITIC." I was on the right track though missing some key characteristics. Very helpful tips!

Hi all, I'm having some trouble identifying these jaegers. Is anyone good at that? Seen on a pelagic trip off the coast of Oregon last week. 1. B&W barring underneath, pale belly, gonydeal angle near midpoint (?) - Long-tailed Jaeger? 2. Blocky squarish head, long bill in relation to head makes me think Pomarine, but the uniform underwing makes me think Long-tailed. 3. Gonydeal angle near tip, light belly, gray brown vent - Parasitic? Link to all the photos if that's helpful here.

Great! Thanks. That was my first thought, then I talked myself out of it.

Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs? I thought one, then the other, and then I just confused myself and thought it would be good to get another opinion. Unfortunately, no other birds around for size comparison. Seen on the Oregon coast this August. Also, glad the forum is back up!