cccougar

Thank you to all responders!

Also spotted today near Chicago’s Navy Pier were some gulls. I am pretty sure these are Ring-billed Gulls. Just seeking confirmation. Thank you.

Thank you! I’ve not heard the term eclipse plumage before. Please further enlighten.

I’m visiting Chicago and spotted this duck in waters near the Navy Pier. Looks to be a Black Duck but I’m not sure. Thanks for the help.

So a like confirms that the person is correct? Is that understood within the whatbird community?

Excellent! Thank you for the quick response Seanbirds. Can I get a second on Savannah Sparrow?

This small bird was spotted on a trail in coastal South Carolina. Need ID help please.

Thank you Tony! I definitely will try to see the other leg for possible banding should this little beauty return.

Quite the surprise on my back porch this morning to see this bird come to my feeders. Glad I had my camera at hand. Seeking confirmation that this is an immature Indigo Bunting. And note this one is banded too. Does the color of the band mean anything? Thank you.

Yes Charlie I photographed males recently elsewhere in Charleston (pictured). I guess what I saw today were youngsters or immatures as another respondent said.

Oh good, sounds like I’m correct on the non-breeding male part. It did seem odd if they were all females. So brace is just two? How about raft, paddling and flush as collectives? These terms are all from whatbird.com.

The pond behind my house in the Charleston, S.C. area doesn’t have many duck visitors but today a brace of five Hooded Mergansers spent some time here. At first I thought these were all females, but some research revealed that non-breeding males look this way. I’m thinking the ones with the solid dark bills are the males and the ones with the yellowish lower bill are females. The second photo shows the two types. Am I right or wrong from the jump. Also, if they are non-breeding males are they juveniles who by next year will be rocking the Hoodies distinctive big black and white heads? Thank you.

Bird Brain- The headline was supposed to read Hawk Help. That is a good question you raise whether these hawks are he’s or she’s! Can anyone answer that and provide the insights?

Thank you Bird Nuts and Merriam-Webster!