Island News & Views
General · 2nd January 2009
Debbie
Yesterday 6 birds appeared on the deck to feed with the regulars. They like sunflower seeds.
They have a burnt orange breast that gets richer dark burnt brown as it goes up into their head. They have a crown but not as pronounced as the Stellar Jay has. They are quite nervous and scare off easily. They are slightly bigger than the Junco. Their bodies are more streamlined than round.
They were back today. Any ideas - please post. Thank you.
[Note from Ed: Following a possible identification from a gumbooter I took the liberty of adding a picture of a bohemian waxwing... is this the one?]
They have a burnt orange breast that gets richer dark burnt brown as it goes up into their head. They have a crown but not as pronounced as the Stellar Jay has. They are quite nervous and scare off easily. They are slightly bigger than the Junco. Their bodies are more streamlined than round.
They were back today. Any ideas - please post. Thank you.
[Note from Ed: Following a possible identification from a gumbooter I took the liberty of adding a picture of a bohemian waxwing... is this the one?]
identifying bird
Comment by Michael Foort on 12th January 2009
email me a copy of the bird photo and i'll pass it along to B.C.'s foremost birder Adrian Dorst.
email me a copy of the bird photo and i'll pass it along to B.C.'s foremost birder Adrian Dorst.
House Finch - more orange than red
Comment by Debbie on 4th January 2009
Now I have two orange house finches out there. These I were at least able to identify.
See bottom comments.
They must be following my regular Junca and Spotted Towhee. Because, until it turned cold, I never had any Fox Sparrows either.
http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/images/HouseFinch0709-1.jpg
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.critterlight.com/House-Finch-6-063003.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.critterlight.com/new_page_2.htm&usg=__6Tks8o_W-xg2duLwpNVFg3AfxOk=&h=600&w=536&sz=87&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=2-c1AV5xsFYBwM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhouse%2Bfinch%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX
The man said he has seen red, orange and yellow ones. Mine are orange.
"Yeah, coloration of male house finches is really variable. According to one source I was reading, the difference is primarily one of diet: certain finches eat different things, leading to them getting that odd yellowish version of the traditional brick red on the head, throat, and rump."
THE OTHER BIRDS HAVE NOT BEEN BACK!!
Now I have two orange house finches out there. These I were at least able to identify.
See bottom comments.
They must be following my regular Junca and Spotted Towhee. Because, until it turned cold, I never had any Fox Sparrows either.
http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/images/HouseFinch0709-1.jpg
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.critterlight.com/House-Finch-6-063003.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.critterlight.com/new_page_2.htm&usg=__6Tks8o_W-xg2duLwpNVFg3AfxOk=&h=600&w=536&sz=87&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=2-c1AV5xsFYBwM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhouse%2Bfinch%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX
The man said he has seen red, orange and yellow ones. Mine are orange.
"Yeah, coloration of male house finches is really variable. According to one source I was reading, the difference is primarily one of diet: certain finches eat different things, leading to them getting that odd yellowish version of the traditional brick red on the head, throat, and rump."
THE OTHER BIRDS HAVE NOT BEEN BACK!!
Getting closer
Comment by Debbie on 4th January 2009
Ckecked those all out. At least we are getting closer. They have not been back - just those two days.
The breast is all burnt orange (not red) - just like a robin and that color carries up into the head. Just gets a rich brown as it goes up the neck and head. No other color there.
They are very nervous and flighty and scare at the slightest of movement so it is hard to get a good, long look.
They were after the sunflower seeds and did not seem to be interested in berries.
Beaks seemed to be normal.
The crown is very small and not noticable on quick look. It is probably partely because it is puffed up.
Suggested by someone that they might be migrating and stayed home to long because of the nice fall.
Sea water, my front yard is open, cedars line the side deck where they are, lots of various vegetation.
They difinitely were attracted by the regular birds who feed here because they were ground feeding mixed in with them.
Ckecked those all out. At least we are getting closer. They have not been back - just those two days.
The breast is all burnt orange (not red) - just like a robin and that color carries up into the head. Just gets a rich brown as it goes up the neck and head. No other color there.
They are very nervous and flighty and scare at the slightest of movement so it is hard to get a good, long look.
They were after the sunflower seeds and did not seem to be interested in berries.
Beaks seemed to be normal.
The crown is very small and not noticable on quick look. It is probably partely because it is puffed up.
Suggested by someone that they might be migrating and stayed home to long because of the nice fall.
Sea water, my front yard is open, cedars line the side deck where they are, lots of various vegetation.
They difinitely were attracted by the regular birds who feed here because they were ground feeding mixed in with them.
Waxwing?
Comment by S. Mooney on 3rd January 2009
Your description sounds more like a female Pine Grosbeak which are around right now. especially if you are on the loop. The crest is a bit of a red herring but the orange colour particularily if it combines with a large beak makes it likely a grosbeak.( the guidebooks and photographs often fail to capture this)
Your description sounds more like a female Pine Grosbeak which are around right now. especially if you are on the loop. The crest is a bit of a red herring but the orange colour particularily if it combines with a large beak makes it likely a grosbeak.( the guidebooks and photographs often fail to capture this)
Waxwing?
Comment by S. Mooney on 3rd January 2009
that sound's right, I've seen bohemian Waxwings on Quadra but only in winters like this one.other oddballs that is here in these conditions are irruptive finches: whitewing crossbills and Pine Grosbeaks.
that sound's right, I've seen bohemian Waxwings on Quadra but only in winters like this one.other oddballs that is here in these conditions are irruptive finches: whitewing crossbills and Pine Grosbeaks.
my guess is...
Comment by will laVigne on 3rd January 2009
By the information supplied I am guessing a flock of rufous-sided towhees. The big question for me is whats the environ. Is near water? Fresh or salt? What type of terrain? Wooded or open field? What type of trees? Decidous or coniferous or mix?
My other guess is a female varied thrush. I have seen them with other birds at feeders. Shy and will fly away whenever any movement nearby.
By the information supplied I am guessing a flock of rufous-sided towhees. The big question for me is whats the environ. Is near water? Fresh or salt? What type of terrain? Wooded or open field? What type of trees? Decidous or coniferous or mix?
My other guess is a female varied thrush. I have seen them with other birds at feeders. Shy and will fly away whenever any movement nearby.
Not a waxwing
Comment by Debbie on 3rd January 2009
The waxwing is much bigger than this bird. This bird had an orange breast, like a robin has a red breast,and the color carried up into the head becoming a rich darker brown. And the crown was much shorter in length.
Thanks. Keep up the detective work I have view over 100 pictures on line now and notheing even close
The waxwing is much bigger than this bird. This bird had an orange breast, like a robin has a red breast,and the color carried up into the head becoming a rich darker brown. And the crown was much shorter in length.
Thanks. Keep up the detective work I have view over 100 pictures on line now and notheing even close
waxwing?
Comment by Gypsy Mama on 3rd January 2009
Sounds a bit like a bohemian waxwing.
Mike Yipp actually has a photo in the paper I just got in my mailbox on Friday.
They do really scatter quite easily, and love the berries left on any bushes. Saw them regularly in Fort McMurray where they love the mountain ash berries.
Sounds a bit like a bohemian waxwing.
Mike Yipp actually has a photo in the paper I just got in my mailbox on Friday.
They do really scatter quite easily, and love the berries left on any bushes. Saw them regularly in Fort McMurray where they love the mountain ash berries.