leetriplej 3 Posted July 15 I was visiting Colorado earlier this week, and I need help with some IDs. Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide! 1. In this one, I'm wondering about the bird to the left, not the fem bluebird.   2. Is there an expert who can guess the flycatcher? He just wouldn't sing for me. 😞  3. I know these last three were very distant and hard to photograph.  But if you could help me figure them out, I'd love to add to my western bird list!  4.  5.  Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 1,816 Posted July 15 (edited) 1. Looks like a juvenile Western Bluebird 2. Wood-Pewee, Western by range 3. Say's Phoebe, I think 4. Sparrow sp. 5. House Finch, I think Edited July 15 by The Bird Nuts 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean C 240 Posted July 15 1: Western Bluebirds 2: Western Wood-pewee 3: Looks like a Say's Phoebe 4: Sparrow, maybe Cassin's? 5: House Finch 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creeker 173 Posted July 15 I think four looks like a Song Sparrow. Cassin's would be "Skylarking" this time of year, that is launching upward and singing, then landing on the ground. Did you notice that behavior? I could also see five as an interior west Fox Sparrow, if I'm seeing the yellow lower mandible and dorsal color shading correctly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leetriplej 3 Posted July 15 7 minutes ago, Sean C said: 4: Sparrow, maybe Cassin's? Thank you SO MUCH for your help!  I looked up the Cassin's Sparrow and read that they like wide-open grasslands.  I suppose it would help if I mentioned that I was near Monument, Colorado.  Would that make a different sparrow more likely? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creeker 173 Posted July 15 4 minutes ago, leetriplej said: Thank you SO MUCH for your help!  I looked up the Cassin's Sparrow and read that they like wide-open grasslands.  I suppose it would help if I mentioned that I was near Monument, Colorado.  Would that make a different sparrow more likely? Cassin's almost always stay hidden on the ground except when displaying the behavior I mentioned. I'm sure if it was a Cassin's you'd have seen that behavior. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 1,816 Posted July 15 The sparrow looks more like a Savannah or Vesper Sparrow to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean C 240 Posted July 15 3 minutes ago, Creeker said: Cassin's almost always stay hidden on the ground except when displaying the behavior I mentioned. I'm sure if it was a Cassin's you'd have seen that behavior. Could be the lighting that's throwing me off Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creeker 173 Posted July 15 1 minute ago, The Bird Nuts said: The sparrow looks more like a Savannah or Vesper Sparrow to me. I could be onboard with one of those. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean C 240 Posted July 15 3 minutes ago, The Bird Nuts said: The sparrow looks more like a Savannah or Vesper Sparrow to me. With the face pattern it could be a VESP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creeker 173 Posted July 15 2 minutes ago, Sean C said: Could be the lighting that's throwing me off They're a hard one to ID. Luckily the two times I've seen them they've been doing the skylark thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leetriplej 3 Posted July 15 17 minutes ago, Creeker said: I think four looks like a Song Sparrow. Cassin's would be "Skylarking" this time of year, that is launching upward and singing, then landing on the ground. Did you notice that behavior? I could also see five as an interior west Fox Sparrow, if I'm seeing the yellow lower mandible and dorsal color shading correctly. I have a bunch of equally blurry photos, and I'm looking through them to see if any help. Â I think this one show that the lower mandible is definitely paler than the upper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creeker 173 Posted July 15 I like Five even better for Fox after seeing this pic. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blackburnian 583 Posted July 15 4 is a Vesper Sparrow and I definitely like House Finch for five. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leetriplej 3 Posted July 15 So, I'm a dork and have been confusing 4 & 5.  🙄 The extra picture I posted was actually of bird #5.  I'm so sorry for the confusion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creeker 173 Posted July 15 25 minutes ago, leetriplej said: So, I'm a dork and have been confusing 4 & 5.  🙄 The extra picture I posted was actually of bird #5.  I'm so sorry for the confusion. I think we could figure that out. Anyone else that's seen western Fox Sparrows think 5 could be one, or is it just me? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creeker 173 Posted July 15 (edited) My best pic of a western Fox Sparrow for comparison....... Edited July 15 by Creeker add pic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean C 240 Posted July 15 what about juvenile BHCO for 5? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blackburnian 583 Posted July 15 I don’t see one feature not perfect for House Finch. It’s far too light for a Fox Sparrow in my opinion. It looks like a pretty textbook House Finch to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin 1,088 Posted July 15 4 Looks like a Vesper Sparrow to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
