[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

13 hours ago, IKLland said:

Hm. Spruce Grouse?

[Another call.]

Bushtits in the background and the trill is an Orange-crowned Warbler.

[help with ID please]

Lark Sparrow! If I'm not mistaken that's a good bird for Mississippi and should be reported.

[I'm curious what other hobbies folks here have...]

Besides birding, let's see... Literally anything else to do with nature - butterflies and moths are a big one right now. Mammals of course. Piano, Photography, and Drawing are my other ones, although I haven't drawn in forever. I dink around with building stuff too - I love working with my hands so if I can come up with anything robotic that needs to be made I'll try to make it 🤣

[Sparrow ID - Lincoln or Savanna?]

With that yellow supercilium, Savannah Sparrow for sure!

[Dark brown head, pale yellow belly]

Eastern Phoebe?

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

Cassin's Finch then?

[To chase or not to chase?]

I drove 9 hours through a literal blizzard to get Ivory Gull. It depends on how rare the bird is - I would drive a good distance for Hobby.

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

3 minutes ago, Seanbirds said:

PUFI

This

[2 Warbler Songs]

I would call the first one YR and the second Nashville, but man am I rusty.

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

51 minutes ago, Seanbirds said:

Cassin’s?

Yep! 

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

7 hours ago, IKLland said:

Warbling vireo?

No, but warm.

[I need a PLOVER that won't drive me crazy!]

20 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Okay, I'm confused.  Are we saying only Pipings and Snowys get banded? 

Why band a bird more than once?

Some birds get multiple bands at one time - colored ones and numbered ones for easier ID iirc.

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

2 hours ago, IKLland said:

Is it a warbler?

Nope

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

11 minutes ago, Connor Cochrane said:

Has Bay-breasted been guessed yet?

Nope, but that's not right either.

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

2 hours ago, IKLland said:

Cape may warbler.

 

1 hour ago, Aaron said:

American redstart?

Nope

[Are any of these Cacklings?]

All Canadas.

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

1 hour ago, IKLland said:

Blackpoll warbler?

Nope

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

11 hours ago, IKLland said:

Western Tanager?

Nope

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

Yay! New challenge: 

[Guess the bird by it's tail challenge!]

Black-throated Green?

[Weird sparrow( phone pics).]

Agreed with Song. Facial pattern is spot on. Looks like maybe a stunted young bird? It doesn't look very healthy to me. 

[Your Best or Favorite Photo of a Bird Species.]

[What’s wrong with these photos??]

As is clearly evident, the eBird rating system is a bit controversial. I'd rate your photos a 3 - I'd even see people rating a photo like your Black Phoebe shot at a 2, simply because the bird is out of focus and the background is distracting.

As far as quality of the images, I'd say the main issue I have with the first ones you posted is that they're slightly fuzzy. I agree with most - I'd put them at a 3. 4 to me are photos that are in good focus and have good composition. I reserve my 5s for photos that would be 4s but have just that next step of quality - bird is exceptionally clear, background is perfectly aligned, maybe the bird behavior is showcased, something like that. 

[Ready for a challenge? What Bird?]

Eh, yeah, it's so mechanical it's probably a Steller's Jay. I've heard them make similar noises before. Whatever you're using for recording struggles to pick up any bass 😂