annapolis Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Sorry for the poor picture quality---I did the best I could with what I was sent. Local listserv here in Maryland, Baltimore area (I believe). Post-er says the bird has been hanging out around her suet feeder for months. I'm baffled. If I saw this near the road during the winter somewhere rural, I'd call it a Snow Bunting, but that's just plain wrong, isn't it? This is a (sub)urban setting, near feeders, apparently since early fall. Leucistic mockingbird...? Escaped exotic? At a loss here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annapolis Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 Should add: I can't enlarge. That's a full-size crop from what I assume was a cell phone pic taken at some distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Looks to be a leucistic bird, but the shape is wrong for a mockingbird. If I had to guess I'd say House Finch or Common Redpoll, but I'm afraid we're going to need a better photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metaquatic Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 American Goldfinch? It's hard to tell the size in the photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annapolis Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share Posted December 13, 2018 Leucistic goldfinch seems to be gaining popularity in the email thread. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 I don't think it's a goldfinch since it appears to have a long tail and streaking on the flanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 (edited) I originally thought goldfinch but now I'm leaning against it. I've never seen a American Goldfinch at my suet feeders, even when the weather is at its coldest and the seed feeders are empty. I realize I haven't surveyed the feeding habits of all North American Goldies but that choice of food has me now firmly out of the goldfinch camp. The Bird Nuts' streaking has me wondering about a warbler, but there doesn't appear to be enough bill. Edited December 13, 2018 by Charlie Spencer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 I agree with the others. This is definitely not a Goldfinch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim W Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 (edited) Hard to imagine its been "hanging around for months" and nobody has taken a decent picture. Are we sure this isn't a troll? Following Charlie Spencer's train of thought... I went to Project Feederwatch to see what common birds might eat suet in the winter in the northeast. I'm wondering if it is a Baltimore Oriole. The Bird Nuts streaking might rule that out, but the head shape seems right to me. Some other possibilities from that list that struck me are Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Eastern Bluebird. Edited December 13, 2018 by Jim W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 47 minutes ago, Jim W said: I'm wondering if it is a Baltimore Oriole. Well, the sighting IS in Baltimore 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooFly Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Just for fun, I ran it though IBird photo Sleuth... Results... It’s guessing Redpoll! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 I see nothing to suggest Baltimore Oriole here. Note the shape, structure, bill, and coloring. I'm still thinking House Finch, or possibly a Redpoll. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Leucistic Redpoll or House Finch, then? Are redpolls like finches, in that their coloring is affected by the carotenoids in their diet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 2 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: Leucistic Redpoll or House Finch, then? Are redpolls like finches, in that their coloring is affected by the carotenoids in their diet? I think that in House and Purple Finches the diet really on,t changed the color of the breast on males. This bird is definitely leucistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: Leucistic Redpoll or House Finch, then? Are redpolls like finches, in that their coloring is affected by the carotenoids in their diet? Redpolls are finches. Edited December 14, 2018 by akiley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, akiley said: Redpolls are finches. Sorry, '...like House Finches...'? Edited December 14, 2018 by Charlie Spencer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melierax Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 The tail is long and it appears to be walking, not hopping like a finch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melierax Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 What about an escaped white budgerigar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IvoryBillHope Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Leucistic towhee is another possibility I don't think anyone's mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee_ keeper Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) Everyone loves a good mystery :) 1 hour ago, Melierax said: The tail is long and it appears to be walking, not hopping like a finch. Good observation; the legs - what little can be seen of them - look very unnatural in shape and very pale. The tail appears to have a kink in it at an odd location, suggesting the last portion might not even be part of the tail. 1 hour ago, Melierax said: What about an escaped white budgerigar? You might be onto something here. The head and eyes are very 'budgie' looking. The way the bird is posed, and its location - it's some kind of cement shelf, perhaps an outdoor grill. It's not typical behavior of a wild bird. It kind of looks like an amalgam of different birds. It might even be fake as Jim W suggested up above. Edited December 15, 2018 by Bee_ keeper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annapolis Posted December 15, 2018 Author Share Posted December 15, 2018 Not a troll, I’m quite sure. This is from a state naturalist listserv, so a pretty well vetted group. On that list, the leucistic goldfinch idea was the most popular. I think, really, the best we’re going to be able to say is leucistic passerine. The rest is speculation. Appreciate the replies! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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