Adam Nye Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 Hey! Just joined this site and am not at all sure if this is the right place to post this, but I am looking for help identifying a bird I saw yesterday that does not seem to be in any of my field guides. Unfortunately, I do not have a photo, but I was able to watch it w/ binoculars, both while perched and in flight. Thus: Bird spotted in western Calaveras County, CA, yesterday around noon (grassland w/ scrub oak & some pine, elevation +1,000 ft). While perched, it appeared at least crow-sized. Black head, back, wings & tail. Long, straight, narrow beak (like a sandpiper). White collar. Red breast. Narrow tail that pointed while perched and assumed the shape of a narrow puttyknife in flight. In flight, it had a kestrel-like silhouette, no space between individual wing or tail feathers evident. It did not soar or glide for any length of time. Any suggestions, greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 Welcome to Whatbird! Maybe check out Lewis's Woodpecker. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lewiss_Woodpecker/overview 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 17 minutes ago, Adam Nye said: Hey! Just joined this site and am not at all sure if this is the right place to post this, but I am looking for help identifying a bird I saw yesterday that does not seem to be in any of my field guides. Unfortunately, I do not have a photo, but I was able to watch it w/ binoculars, both while perched and in flight. Thus: Bird spotted in western Calaveras County, CA, yesterday around noon (grassland w/ scrub oak & some pine, elevation +1,000 ft). While perched, it appeared at least crow-sized. Black head, back, wings & tail. Long, straight, narrow beak (like a sandpiper). White collar. Red breast. Narrow tail that pointed while perched and assumed the shape of a narrow puttyknife in flight. In flight, it had a kestrel-like silhouette, no space between individual wing or tail feathers evident. It did not soar or glide for any length of time. Any suggestions, greatly appreciated! You said that you saw it when it was perched, was it tree clinging or perched? Welcome to whatbird @Adam Nye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 Lewis's does sound like a good fit for that description, plus we've been having an insane irruption year for Lewis's here in California's Central Valley, so I wouldn't be at all surprised to encounter one in habitat like that. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Nye Posted October 22, 2022 Author Share Posted October 22, 2022 The bird was perched right at the top of a tall oak. I noticed its silhouette against the horizon. This bird was BIG --at LEAST crow-sized. The long, narrow beak seemed incongruous. It was NOT a woodpecker. If not for the beak, I would have said it was a small hawk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Maybe a Green Heron? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Green Heron does sound like a good fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird-Boys Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 8 hours ago, Adam Nye said: The bird was perched right at the top of a tall oak. I noticed its silhouette against the horizon. This bird was BIG --at LEAST crow-sized. The long, narrow beak seemed incongruous. It was NOT a woodpecker. If not for the beak, I would have said it was a small hawk. Lewis's Woodpeckers are somewhat similar in size to crows, and even have a similar flight pattern. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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