Can you help ID this bird please?

hark

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Okay...so what is this (besides a big pain in the arse)? A red-tailed hawk or a falcon? :confused: My guess is a falcon simply due to its smaller size. I'm never going to learn their differences.

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hark

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Thanks, Kevin! :encouragement: I photographed one once before and compared the photos but didn't think the colors around the head resembled one another. And this one seemed more husky...maybe it's just been better with getting its meals. ;)
 

Stoshowicz

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I would go with juvenal or first winter , for the brown one since the bill is still mostly dark , and third winter Herring gull for the light one because of the white spot on the primaries coming in with still some brown on the upper wing , but I'm not a hundred percent confident on the ages.. ( nor will I swear that its not some odd gull for your location. )
I'm trying to hammer out the exactitudes of the gull IDs , myself, the experts seem rather contradictory. I've got some I'd like a second opinion on.
 
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Stoshowicz

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Though the under-tail coverts aren't visible as- clearly white Or Yellow to me ,,, looking at the Tail which appears relatively long I would agree you're correct with orange crowned. (With the feathers ruffled I cant tell if the breast is streaky or not.) The deciding factor for me is that the throat looks strongly yellow rather than pale yellow to white.
 
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Marilynne

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When I first saw them I though they were mergansers, then I thought Blue Winged, but now...

Ring-necked or Lesser Scaup?

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Marilynne

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I really, really, really dislike having to ID warblers. I know it's easy for some, I even downloaded the warbler quick id pdf from The Warbler Guide and still can't get them. I have looked at every warbler in my Sibley's book. Have I mentioned I don't like IDing warblers?
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wev

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I really, really, really dislike having to ID warblers. I know it's easy for some, I even downloaded the warbler quick id pdf from The Warbler Guide and still can't get them. I have looked at every warbler in my Sibley's book. Have I mentioned I don't like IDing warblers?
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The tail under color, white edged gray, is a vireo trait -- maybe a blue-headed which winter with you. The other is a palm, as you guessed
 
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