15 replies to this topic

[Mark Miles]

Both taken in Northwestern Illinois today 3/31/12. Apoligize for the quality of the pics. First two shots I suspect a Hermit Thrush but I've been wrong before. I've always mistaken a Swainson's for a Hermit. I am looking at the tail here, it was definitely a rusty red. Last pic APPEARS to be a Hairy Woodpecker on my feeder. I am looking at the undertail coverts with no black lines and the length of the bill. Please confirm or explain what I missed.

Thanks,

Mark

P.S. All pics linked from www.flickr.com. All pictures are my originals.

[Shoveler26]

well first of all those two Thrushes in the first 2 pics are Hermit and I think the 3rd pic is of a Downy not a Harry.

[BarnSwallow]

I agree with hermit for both thrushes and downy. Bill too short for hairy.

[Mark Miles]

Thank you both. The first two pics are of the same bird. Sorry, I guess I should have stated that. Finally, a Hermit Thrush! That will be just about number 200, have to check.
As far as the woodpecker goes I guess I was focusing on the tail. Seeing no black lines at all I assumed Hairy and made the bill fit my assumptions I guess.

Thanks,
Mark

[MWM]

I was looking for the barring on the tail too, but it isn't always easy to see. Bill size and overall size (easy to compare with feeder & chain link fence) indicate Downy.

[meghann]

Edit-nevermind, lol. I need to read posts more carefully.

[BarnSwallow]

That one has white outer tail feathers with black barring typical downy!

[meghann]

I'm going to jump in hijack the thread to ask about this one. I've always assumed it was downy, but now looking at it compared to all my other downy pics, the bill length has me feeling iffy.



woodpecker by midgetinvasion, on Flickr

As compared to this one, that I KNOW is a Downy:



Woodpecker on tree by midgetinvasion, on Flickr

[Cavan Wood]

Correct Suprmom. First is hairy. Second is downy.

[meghann]

Correct Suprmom. First is hairy. Second is downy.

Well that's a bit of good news! I had thought I'd never seen a hairy. Lol!

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

It kind of looks like they're both Downy Woodpeckers to me - the bill just doesn't look long enough for a Hairy.

That said, I've made a complete fool out of myself on these two before, so I may be wrong... But that just looks too teensy for Hairy to me.

[Cavan Wood]

It kind of looks like they're both Downy Woodpeckers to me - the bill just doesn't look long enough for a Hairy.

That said, I've made a complete fool out of myself on these two before, so I may be wrong... But that just looks too teensy for Hairy to me.

I was actually beginning to second guess this as well. It's pretty long billed, but the proportions are more downyish. Pehaps you could give us the measurement from the feeder wire at the bill to the wire at the tail (two squares). That would seal the deal as the sizes of these two species do not overlap at all.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Paruula has the same feeder, and she mentioned that this bird seems pretty small in comparison to the feeder. More precise measurements could also help, though!

[meghann]

I'll have to measure it next week when I'm back home, we're out of town at the moment, and it's been a long time since I've used that feeder, too many issues with mold.

[Pat B.]

Yes - compare it to the size of the feeder. I think we get too hung up on tail markings (which are regionally variable apparently) and sometimes bill length (which can look different depending on camera angle). These birds are not even close to each other in size, as Cavan Wood points out.

[meghann]

You're probably right. Ah well, that was a nice hour any way, when I thought I had a new one for my list! Lol!