3 New ones, I think

[bpresby]

Happy Easter,

All taken in southern California.  The Raptor was last week and the others were this morning.  

 

1) I believe this is a Northern Harrier ( I think)

2)  Looks like a Towhee, but different behavior.  I couldn't get closer, best shots I could get. 

 

 

3)  I thought this was a new Sparrow, but the orange bill makes me think it is a White-Crowned 

 

4)  No clue, terrible shot  Thought I send it out anyway 

 

 

 

[Connor Cochrane]

1: Red Tailed Hawk

2: Seems like an Ash-Throated Flycatcher from the image

3: Difficult. Almost looks like a Clay-Colored Sparrow with it's gray neck in the picture, which would be good for SoCal. I would like to see other peoples suggestions.

4: That looks more like a White-Crowned Sparrow, but hard to tell from the Image

[AlexHenry]

2 minutes ago, Connor Cochrane said:

1: Red Tailed Hawk

2: Seems like an Ash-Throated Flycatcher from the image

3: Difficult. Almost looks like a Clay-Colored Sparrow with it's gray neck in the picture, which would be good for SoCal. I would like to see other peoples suggestions.

Agree with the first two

3 is definitely either Clay-colored or Chipping, my first thought was Clay-colored but Chipping is more likely and its partially obscured so idk... looks good for Clay-colored but not sure

[Connor Cochrane]

10 minutes ago, AlexHenry said:

3 is definitely either Clay-colored or Chipping, my first thought was Clay-colored but Chipping is more likely and its partially obscured so idk... looks good for Clay-colored but not sure

I've been looking at this bird closer, and I would put clay-colored over chipping, due to the clean white mallar stripe, and a more pronounced cheek patch than Chipping. Also most CHSP would be in breeding plumage by this time of year. This bird seems to be in a fresh plumage. In Northern California, we get Clay Colored Sparrows as one of our more common rarities. I still can't rule out CHSP in my opinion without better photos.

Edited April 12, 2020 by Connor Cochrane

[Sneat]

Clay-colored was my first thought as well.

 

[Phalarope713]

3 is definitely Clay-colored. I was thinking White-crowned for 4 as well. 

[Birding Boy]

Another for Clay-Colored and White-Crowned.

[Tony Leukering]

26 minutes ago, Connor Cochrane said:

I've been looking at this bird closer, and I would put clay-colored over chipping, due to the clean white mallar stripe, and a more pronounced cheek patch than Chipping. Also most CHSP would be in breeding plumage by this time of year. This bird seems to be in a fresh plumage. In Northern California, we get Clay Colored Sparrows as one of our more common rarities. I still can't rule out CHSP in my opinion without better photos.

The unmarked gray collar is definitive for CCSP.

[Tony Leukering]

The raptor has an all-orange tail and lacks white upper-tail coverts, ruling out Northern (or any other) Harrier.

[bpresby]

Thanks everyone!

The Ash-Throated Flycatcher and Clay Colored are new for me!

B