TexasCobra Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 What do you see here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 (edited) the left bird is s house sparrow Edited August 19 by IKLland 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanager 101 Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 9 minutes ago, IKLland said: the left bird is s house sparrow Yep. The right one looks like some exotic bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 I’m wondering about Varied Bunting for the right bird. Not sure how far north in Texas they reach. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 Agree on House Sparrow for the left bird. Why not Pyrrhuloxia for the right bird? 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 I was thinking molting northern cardinal, but pyrrhuloxia seems better for the bird. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 5 hours ago, Avery said: Agree on House Sparrow for the left bird. Why not Pyrrhuloxia for the right bird? That would be correct! Pyrrhuloxia! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasCobra Posted August 19 Author Share Posted August 19 I had to look up Pyrrhuloxia, never having seen one before. The distribution map for them includes the San Antonio area where I reside. I definitely think these were Pyrrhuloxia! The birds did not behave like female cardinals of which I have never seen more than two of a kind and usually accompanied by an easily identified male companion. The birds I saw were 5 or 6 in number and hopping around on the ground beneath a feeder stocked with cracked corn. I thought they were female cardinals at first, then I thought they might be house finches, then I rejected both of those identifications. AllAboutBirds says "Pyrrhuloxias live in upland deserts, mesquite savannas, riparian (streamside) woodlands, desert scrublands, farm fields with hedgerows, and residential areas with nearby mesquite. When not breeding, some Pyrrhuloxias wander into urban habitats, mesquite-hackberry habitats, and riparian habitats with Arizona sycamore and cottonwood." That would be a good description of my environs. The Colorado River borders my exurb. Mesquite, hackberry, and cactus are abundant. I am surrounded by exotic game ranches and cattle grazing. Thanks for the comments. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Highberger Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 I agree on Pyrrhuloxia. Good find! I have made several attempts in South Texas this year and have yet to spot one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 6 hours ago, TexasCobra said: I had to look up Pyrrhuloxia, never having seen one before. The distribution map for them includes the San Antonio area where I reside. I definitely think these were Pyrrhuloxia! The birds did not behave like female cardinals of which I have never seen more than two of a kind and usually accompanied by an easily identified male companion. The birds I saw were 5 or 6 in number and hopping around on the ground beneath a feeder stocked with cracked corn. I thought they were female cardinals at first, then I thought they might be house finches, then I rejected both of those identifications. AllAboutBirds says "Pyrrhuloxias live in upland deserts, mesquite savannas, riparian (streamside) woodlands, desert scrublands, farm fields with hedgerows, and residential areas with nearby mesquite. When not breeding, some Pyrrhuloxias wander into urban habitats, mesquite-hackberry habitats, and riparian habitats with Arizona sycamore and cottonwood." That would be a good description of my environs. The Colorado River borders my exurb. Mesquite, hackberry, and cactus are abundant. I am surrounded by exotic game ranches and cattle grazing. Thanks for the comments. FYI, only the right bird is one. The left bird is a house sparrow. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 7 hours ago, Jim Highberger said: I agree on Pyrrhuloxia. Good find! I have made several attempts in South Texas this year and have yet to spot one. They aren't the easiest of birds to find, in my experience they manage to hide extremely well, and even when they pop up they are always into the sun with branches in the way of viewing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 Pyrrhuloxia really are cool birds, they are really and fun to see.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasCobra Posted August 21 Author Share Posted August 21 In my previous reply I meant to say Guadalupe rather than Colorado River. The Guadalupe is the northern border of my residential community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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