Can you help ID this bird please?
- Thread starter Marilynne
- Start date
i couldn't see that @Marilynne
I am trying to ID this bird. I'm in Pennsylvania outside of Philly. When I searched via the Merlin app, the closest thing it looks like is a Song Sparrow from the Pacific Northwest - but that's on the other side of the country. It looks too striped to be a song sparrow that is normally found around here.
I asked in a Facebook group for PA birds. A couple people said it's the female of the species...but the female of which type of song sparrow?
I asked in a Facebook group for PA birds. A couple people said it's the female of the species...but the female of which type of song sparrow?
I am trying to ID this bird. I'm in Pennsylvania outside of Philly. When I searched via the Merlin app, the closest thing it looks like is a Song Sparrow from the Pacific Northwest - but that's on the other side of the country. It looks too striped to be a song sparrow that is normally found around here.
I asked in a Facebook group for PA birds. A couple people said it's the female of the species...but the female of which type of song sparrow?
In the Facebook group to ID Pennsylvania birds, I think they are alluding to a female red-winged blackbird. The thing is we get them all the time at our bird feeder, but they don't look quite like this one. And the song/chirp wasn't the same either.
I think I've identified it after reading this article. It looks like the mystery bird in their pics. The shape of the beak is the same as is the streaking. It looks like a juvenile cowbird. We get cowbirds at our feeder, but I've never seen one looking like this.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/id-brown-streaky-birds/
Image from the above link:
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
It's most certainly a female red-winged blackbird. Do you dare to doubt me? LOL
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
Guessing Hammond's Flycatcher.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
Tough to tell from the angle. I'm inclined to say Gray Vireo only because you seem to be in one of the only parts in the US where this isn't rare.
While I thought it was a juvenile cowbird, someone on FB said it's too early for juveniles to be out flying around. And that is true. Most likely it is a female red-winged blackbird. It's just the beak that's throwing me off. It isn't quite as slim as I've seen on red-winged blackbirds - it's more thick and stubby. But no doubt you and everyone else are right!
We get both male and female red-winged blackbirds at our feeder almost daily so I've seen plenty. This is the first time I've seen such striking striping on one. And its chirps/songs weren't familiar although I hear them all the time. That said, I think red-winged blackbirds are the most prevalent birds at the park right now. And that's where I took these photos.
Thanks, Jake! :encouragement:
That's definitely a better resemblance in the beak than many of the images I've viewed. Here's mine for comparison. Thanks!
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
https://www.thespruce.com/red-winged-blackbird-identification-385990
I see the yellow on the image in question. I would have said cowbird because I have never seen a female RWB before, but this looks like your bird to me. Not that I am an expert by any means. Just trying to learn some bird ID.
I see the yellow on the image in question. I would have said cowbird because I have never seen a female RWB before, but this looks like your bird to me. Not that I am an expert by any means. Just trying to learn some bird ID.
This is a terrific resource! I appreciate it and like the descriptions it offers. Thanks!
It's very helpful.
if your correct (and i am not doubting you .lol) you have just got me two new birds Jake, at least you have giving me something to chase up.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
No guarantees, but it's what made sense given the location and coloration.
A great resource is Sibley's Guide which is available as an app for both Android and iOS. It's not the cheapest app on the planet but it's great in that it has not just multiple views of both males and females, plus the maps and descriptions you get with their books, but it also has songs that you can play to double check and identification. I'm waiting for when they add a "Shazam" feature to it where you can turn on a mic and ask it to identify the bird singing near you. Shouldn't be long - an old friend from high school is working on it at Cornell.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
While I thought it was a juvenile cowbird, someone on FB said it's too early for juveniles to be out flying around. And that is true. Most likely it is a female red-winged blackbird. It's just the beak that's throwing me off. It isn't quite as slim as I've seen on red-winged blackbirds - it's more thick and stubby. But no doubt you and everyone else are right!
We get both male and female red-winged blackbirds at our feeder almost daily so I've seen plenty. This is the first time I've seen such striking striping on one. And its chirps/songs weren't familiar although I hear them all the time. That said, I think red-winged blackbirds are the most prevalent birds at the park right now. And that's where I took these photos.
Thanks, Jake! :encouragement:
The thing about the females is that they have a stark, large sparrow look from the front, and from the side and back they're closer to a starling. We really didn't notice them until about 6 or 7 years ago and even now they'll pop in the yard and it'll fool us temporarily. Same thing with female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, which have always migrated through but in the last couple years have nested. Then when the babies come they mess with us more because the juveniles are somewhere in between and slowly change. Two days ago we had a first year male that still had largely juvenile plumage, but was morphed in a way that we'd never seen before. It took 5 minutes before we figured out what it was.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
You are welcome. I liked it too.This is a terrific resource! I appreciate it and like the descriptions it offers. Thanks!
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
I would use the heck out of that. I am lousy at recognizing bird calls. I finally got to where I could ID a few at my feeder, but once I don't hear them often, I forget. Just can't retain recognition of them.
