LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 There was a bird that came often to my jelly dish. It taller/thinner than a cardinal. But it had a cardinal's tail feathers. It was gray and might have had a darker marking on its head. Can anyone help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melierax Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 (edited) Can you clarify? It had red tail feathers? Also location can help a ton. Try Gray Catbird though. Or female Northern Cardinal. Edited December 5, 2018 by Melierax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 The location was Southern MN. It was all a darker gray with a slightly darker mark on its head. We get indigo buntings here for a brief time...fyi. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melierax Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 Here's a Gray Catbird... can you describe the beak and any other mark you remember relative to this bird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Sadly, I had it identified...and have since forgotten. It recently came up in conversation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Definately not a catbird. Way less plump and much taller. Also the mark on the head was much more subtle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Possibly a thrush variety. Classic "I'd know it if I heard it" scenario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 All birds can stretch themselves out to look taller and thinner. And some Gray Catbirds have lighter caps. https://www.beautyofbirds.com/images/birds/catbirds/grey3.jpg What was the color of the tail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Long shot on the beak... maybe like a robin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Tail same gray as body...shaped sort of like a cardinal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 3 minutes ago, LisaLisa said: Possibly a thrush variety. Classic "I'd know it if I heard it" scenario. Maybe a Hermit Thrush? http://www.tringa.org/image/6393_Hermit_Thrush_02-18-2008_0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Tail same gray as body...shaped sort of like a cardinal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Not hermit...color is all wrong. It was gray. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 (edited) Okay. I don't know if you're in range, but how about Tufted Titmouse? Like this: https://download.ams.birds.cornell.edu/api/v1/asset/24953321/medium Edited December 5, 2018 by The Bird Nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 Nope, sorry. Darker gray & smoother overall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 It wouldn't be nearly so Arrrrrrr if I hadn't known it previously. [Refer to previous thread]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 Hmm...I can't think of any other gray birds that might visit a jelly feeder...except for maybe a young Canada Jay (formerly Gray Jay) which I would think would be very unusual for your location. I'd like to know what was different about your bird than this one: https://www.beautyofbirds.com/images/birds/catbirds/grey3.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 I surely see your point. Yes, it's pretty close. But not what we came up with previous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 From your point of view it could be mission accomplished...I would understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 5, 2018 Author Share Posted December 5, 2018 The indigo buntings are rare here too, but I had seven of them on my rock patio this year...all at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 (edited) Northern Mockingbird or Townsend's Solitaire? Just trying to think of more gray birds... ? Edited December 5, 2018 by The Bird Nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 5, 2018 Share Posted December 5, 2018 What else eats jelly? A young Baltimore or Orchard Oriole maybe, not yet molted into full adult plumage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egosnell2002 Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 Yeah I was thinking young Baltimore Oriole as well. Makes sense to be visiting a jelly feeder as well. They have lots of plumages, so make sure to look through lots before you're sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesome55dove Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 5 hours ago, LisaLisa said: The location was Southern MN. It was all a darker gray with a slightly darker mark on its head. We get indigo buntings here for a brief time...fyi. You didn't mention what time of year this sighting occurred...Spring, Summer, June, August...it might be helpful to know that information too. ? What about a juvenile European Starling...they are a drab gray and in my experience with them, they will eat almost anything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLisa Posted December 6, 2018 Author Share Posted December 6, 2018 The gray bird was here this summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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