Guest Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Hi all, saw these 4 birds in an urban area by the beach in California, would appreciate any help in IDing all of them (excluding the blackbirds). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamRHead Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) Photo 1. Brewer's Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird Photo 2. Purple finch Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird (below the finch) Photo 3. Red-winged Blackbird Photo 4 Savannah Sparrow Wait for a second opinion. Edited January 2, 2019 by HamRHead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Just curious, are there any diagnostic features for the finch? It seems to lack streaking and just appears very nondescript. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamRHead Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 The faint streaking and slightly curved culmen (upper ridge of bill) favor Purple Finch. Definitely wait for a second opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorEastBirder Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 2 hours ago, sanderling said: Hi all, saw these 4 birds in an urban area by the beach in California, would appreciate any help in IDing all of them (excluding the blackbirds). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorEastBirder Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) The one on the wire does look like a savannah sparrow, But I'm a newbie too..nice photos Edited January 2, 2019 by NorEastBirder more info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PascalNJ Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 3 hours ago, HamRHead said: Photo 1. Brewer's Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird Photo 2. Purple finch Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird (below the finch) Photo 3. Red-winged Blackbird Photo 4 Savannah Sparrow Wait for a second opinion. I agree with all the IDs, except for Photo 2. I think we have a female cowbird here, not a finch. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamRHead Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 23 minutes ago, PascalNJ said: I agree with all the IDs, except for Photo 2. I think we have a female cowbird here, not a finch. You might be right but Is there not a hint of color right under the wing? Looks slightly purple to me but it could be my imagination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy_incognito Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 That's a Brown-headed Cowbird, not a Purple Finch. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) Too much belly streaking for a Purple, and the streaking is too faint for a House Finch. The bill is too dark for either of those. A female Purple would show more of an eyestripe, almost as much as the RWBL in the same photo. Edited January 2, 2019 by Charlie Spencer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PascalNJ Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 43 minutes ago, HamRHead said: You might be right but Is there not a hint of color right under the wing? Looks slightly purple to me but it could be my imagination. That's not what I'm seeing here. I'm not saying it's your imagination ... it could be mine but this bird looks like an icterid to me, not a finch. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamRHead Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 1 hour ago, PascalNJ said: I agree with all the IDs, except for Photo 2. I think we have a female cowbird here, not a finch. 37 minutes ago, guy_incognito said: That's a Brown-headed Cowbird, not a Purple Finch. 32 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Too much belly streaking for a Purple, and the streaking is too faint for a House Finch. The bill is too dark for either of those. A female Purple would show more of an eyestripe, almost as much as the RWBL in the same photo. 20 minutes ago, PascalNJ said: That's not what I'm seeing here. I'm not saying it's your imagination ... it could be mine but this bird looks like an icterid to me, not a finch. Thanks all. Cowbird it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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