Could this be an Orchard?

[BirdNrd]

Seen yesterday in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California. It was smaller than what I would expect a Hooded to be.

[IKLland]

@DLecy

[Birds are cool]

Looks like orchard to me, but I have no experience with Hooded.

[Bird-Boys]

Orchard! Look how little it is compared to the HOSP in the last pic!

Edited November 18, 2022 by Bird-Boys

[Seanbirds]

29 minutes ago, Bird-Boys said:

Orchard! Look how little it is compared to the HOSP in the last pic!

It appears that the HOSP is closer to the camera though... which could skew things.

[Bird-Boys]

1 hour ago, Seanbirds said:

It appears that the HOSP is closer to the camera though... which could skew things.

Even still, and that would make it look even smaller.

[DLecy]

1 hour ago, Bird-Boys said:

Orchard! Look how little it is compared to the HOSP in the last pic!

 

58 minutes ago, Seanbirds said:

It appears that the HOSP is closer to the camera though... which could skew things.

Both of these statements are true. I’d say it’s an Orchard by size, greenish plumage, structure, bill size, and the fact that OROR are much more likely than HOOR at this date; at least that’s the case in Northern CA. 

The tail looks concerningly long for OROR in some of the pictures, but it’s just too small to be anything else, IMO. People sometimes confused ORORs with warblers, that’s how small they are, comparatively. 
 

Aren’t you brothers @Bird-Boys and @BirdNrd?!

[BirdNrd]

48 minutes ago, DLecy said:

 

Both of these statements are true. I’d say it’s an Orchard by size, greenish plumage, structure, bill size, and the fact that OROR are much more likely than HOOR at this date; at least that’s the case in Northern CA. 

The tail looks concerningly long for OROR in some of the pictures, but it’s just too small to be anything else, IMO. People sometimes confused ORORs with warblers, that’s how small they are, comparatively. 
 

Aren’t you brothers @Bird-Boys and @BirdNrd?!

Thanks, and yes we are brothers but he didn't see it.

[DaBirb]

My first Merlin result was a Bullock.

[IKLland]

2 hours ago, DaBirb said:

My first Merlin result was a Bullock.

I wouldn’t trust merlin at all for photo IDs. 

[DLecy]

3 hours ago, DaBirb said:

My first Merlin result was a Bullock.

It’s definitely not a Bullock’s. Proceed with caution…

[AlexHenry]

For me easiest way to tell is call, does it make the typical “veet” call of Hooded or more of a lower pitched wetter “chet” more similar to a blackbird or common yellowthroat.

Of course that only helps if it’s calling