3 replies to this topic

[texasbanzai]

I was watching the local House Finches on my backyard feeder when I noticed this newcomer swoop in. I've spent about an hour trying to identify through search but haven't been able to nail it down. Maybe a towhee or sparrow?

Description: Overall small, approximately the size of a Northern Cardinal. Mostly grey-ish with black eyes and a black, cone-shaped beak. Darker colored back with lighter grey throat. Possibly lighter grey stripes around eyes.

Location: Arlington, TX (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX)

Date: Today (4/12/2012)

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

This is a female Brown-headed Cowbird. The thick, conical, black bill that you mentioned is a nice mark to tell them apart from the other Icterids (blackbirds).

Nice photos, and welcome to Whatbird!

[BarnSwallow]

Second the female brown headed cowbird.

[texasbanzai]

That makes all too much sense. I thought the song sounded eerily familiar. Perhaps it's time to switch bird seed....I have 3-4 male brown-headed cowbirds that visit all too frequently already.

Thanks for the insanely fast ID and the welcome!