Birdtime 5 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Both in Grants pass Or Is the first one a Lincoln's sparrow? Second a Western Bluebird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 2,675 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Golden-crowned Sparrow Western Bluebird Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birding Boy 2,290 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 (edited) That’s actually a Golden-crowned Sparrow, and yes a Western Bluebird. Edit: sniped by @Jefferson Shank Edited February 4 by Birding Boy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birdtime 5 Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 Thank you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,821 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 @Jefferson Shank and @Birding Boy can you please explain how you identified the bluebird? I struggle with these sometimes 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hasan 492 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) Edit: whoops, forgot about Mountain Bluebird. Edited February 5 by Hasan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birding Boy 2,290 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) 35 minutes ago, AlexHenry said: @Jefferson Shank and @Birding Boy can you please explain how you identified the bluebird? I struggle with these sometimes The bill looks to me a lot thinner than what I’d see on EABL, and the orange on the flanks seems more blended into the white area of the belly/undertail area. Seems a bit darker than EABL as well. Edited February 5 by Birding Boy Grammar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,821 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 10 minutes ago, Birding Boy said: The bill looks to me a lot thinner than what I’d see on EABL, and the orange on the flanks seems more blended into the white area of the belly/undertail area. Seems a bit darker than EABL as well. Eastern Bluebird isn’t even an option. Western vs Mountain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birding Boy 2,290 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Just now, AlexHenry said: Eastern Bluebird isn’t even an option. Western vs Mountain Shoot. Sorry misread that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birding Boy 2,290 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Shouldn’t the flanks, or at least what we can see of them, be gray on a Mountain Bluebird? And it seems darker in the back then a Mountain should be, I think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hasan 492 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) The difficulty here is not between Eastern and Western Bluebird (the gray/dusky cheek easily eliminates that), but Western and Mountain. It's actually pretty easy to find contentious cases of ID- here's a 'Western' that I would probably call Mountain, and it only took ten seconds of scrolling on ebird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S42994893 IMO after refreshing my memory (I last had Mountain a couple months ago but I don't live in the west anymore so I don't see it often) I think structural clues (short tail, short wings, general giss) combined (weakly and skeptically) with the apparent shade of blue color would suggest Western over Mountain on this bird. It may be best left a slash bird, however. Edit: For greater context, a small percentage of Mountain Bluebirds are rather rufous below, and this bird definitely falls within that range, purely based on that coloration Edited February 5 by Hasan 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 2,675 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 The chin seems too dark for female/immature Mountain. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,821 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 13 minutes ago, Birding Boy said: Shoot. Sorry misread that. You’re all good! I just like messing with super east-centric birders once in a while (although admittedly I was one only a few years ago). Yeah, Western vs Mountain seems like it should be easy, but it can actually be pretty tough. Off the record I think you’re probably right that it’s Western, but for the record, I’d call it Bluebird sp. I guess my point is that it’s not as easy of an ID as you might think, so no need to jump straight to conclusions. @Hasan is right that structural features and the color of blue in the wings and tail are good clues. Chin color? Maaaaaybe.... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birding Boy 2,290 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Haha, yeah I didn’t even consider MOBL. And yeah being a very east i did not realize how difficult it can be to separate Western from Mountain! Thanks for the corrections/Id pointers. @AlexHenryand @Hasan I agree though, it’s probably best left as a slash or bluebird sp. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 2,675 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Haha, yeah I didn’t even consider MOBL. And yeah being a very east i did not realize how difficult it can be to separate Western from Mountain! Thanks for the corrections/Id pointers. @AlexHenryand @Hasan Same here... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IKLland 1,287 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 5 hours ago, Jefferson Shank said: Golden-crowned Sparrow Western Bluebird agreed. note on the sparrow it has a golden crown! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLecy 941 Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Definitely an under-appreciated ID challenge. Western Bluebird based on bill length, structure, and prominent white edging to wing coverts. Much more likely at this location than MOBL as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Leukering 3,370 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 On 2/4/2021 at 5:31 PM, Birdtime said: Is the first one a Lincoln's sparrow? It isn't streaked below, so cannot be a Lincoln's Sparrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birdtime 5 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 Thanks for all the info. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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