AlexHenry 1,820 Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Aleutian Cackler (leucopareia) vs Ridgway's Cackler (minima) - Aleutians have white collar, Ridgway's has larger white cheek patch, very dark breast with some blackish gloss, as well as being smaller in size and having a rounder head and shorter bill. 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,820 Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Eastern and Western Willets - T s semipalmata vs T s inornata Eastern on left, Western on right. Western is larger, longer legged, paler overall. Eastern has a shorter thicker bill. There have been rumblings about splitting these into two separate species for years, but so far it has been shut down. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin 4,489 Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Western Meadowlark.Eastern Meadowlark. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HamRHead 1,545 Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 House Finch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Female Blue Grosbeak 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bird Brain 1,473 Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 1 minute ago, HamRHead said: House Finch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Female Blue Grosbeak Nice shot!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HamRHead 1,545 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 Today a county first Piping Plover and a Killdeer 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HamRHead 1,545 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 A Barn Swallow and...umm...the other resident of the barn, a Brown Swiss. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,820 Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Baird's Sandpiper vs Least Sandpiper Baird's (along with White-rumped) are significantly larger than the three other peeps (Least, Semipalmated, Western). However the size difference can be somewhat subtle, especially when multiple species aren't present for direct comparison. Perhaps more obvious are the differences in shape and structure, as Baird's have long wings, so they have long primaries that project well beyond the tertials and slightly beyond the tail, and cross. When viewed head on, Baird's are broad-shouldered, with a relatively flat back. The flat back and long, crossed primaries give Baird's Sandpiper a long, stretched out, slender look to their rear end, even though their upper body is noticeably much broader than other peeps. Baird's has relatively long black legs, and a medium length black bill, proportionately slightly longer and straighter than Least Sandpiper's bill, though still with perhaps a slight droop at the tip. Color wise, Baird's are brownish, most similar to Least or Pectoral Sandpiper and pretty distinct from Western, Semipalmated, or White-rumped Sandpiper. So I think Baird's is probably most likely to be confused with Least due to the coloration, but note the warm buffy face and neck and the silvery fringing on some of the scapulars. This photo lined up well to show the differences in size, shape, and coloration between these two relatively similar species. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 1,295 Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Semipalmated (back) and Western (front) Sandpipers 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,820 Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Continuing the theme of shorebirds migration: Lesser Yellowlegs vs Greater Yellowlegs: Lesser on left with small point mostly dark bill, smaller head with steeper forehead, smaller overall vs Greater with a longer bill, which has a obvious pale base and looks slightly upturned. It also has a less steep forehead, more of an s-curve to the neck, and is larger overall. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,820 Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Pacific Golden-Plover vs Black-bellied Plover: 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlexHenry 1,820 Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Wilson’s Phalarope (left) vs Red-necked: 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Connor Cochrane 3,361 Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 (edited) Parasitic? Jaeger (Left) vs Heermann's Gull (Right). While it might seem odd, Heermann's gulls can look very similar to Jaegers when at a distance, as the can looks similar in flight in pattern. Edited September 15, 2020 by Connor Cochrane 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birding Boy 2,284 Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Pectoral (Foreground and Left) and Least Sandpipers 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobinHood 1,822 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Green-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal. I learned some time ago not to trust the apparent speculum colour. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin 4,489 Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Turkey Vulture and Black Vultures. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BirdNrd 930 Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Brown Pelican (right) and Pelagic Cormorant (left) and Male Wood Duck (bottom right) and Female/immature male Wood Duck (left, top right). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chipperatl 681 Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 I don’t think there is any subspecies difference, just one light-headed and one darker-headed Cowbird. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stitch58 631 Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 Short-billed & Long-billed Dowitcher Canvasback & Redhead Northern Cardinal & Bluejay Another Cackling & Canada Goose 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aidan B 1,490 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Lincoln's Sparrow (left) and Song sparrow (right) 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aidan B 1,490 Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 Clarks Grebe (left) and Western Grebe (right) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Connor Cochrane 3,361 Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Aidan B said: Clarks Grebe (left) and Western Grebe (right) That’s a real bright bill for a western. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aidan B 1,490 Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Connor Cochrane said: That’s a real bright bill for a western. Are you thinking it's a Hybrid? Here's another shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avery 1,941 Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 All three for the East Coast. Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, and Lapland Longspur! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 5,168 Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 28 minutes ago, Avery said: All three for the East Coast. Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, and Lapland Longspur! Nice! Where was this? If you don't mind me asking. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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