5 replies to this topic

[ellie87]

I just got back from some birding on the south side of the GSL in Utah. Just need some help on a couple of ID's. The first I think is a savannah sparrow (I looked up the song afterwards and it sure sounded like it). Second I know is a tern, but I don't know which one. Could anyone give me some pointers on how to ID terns? Third was hanging around the black-necked stilts and avocets, but is definitely smaller. Could it be a wilsons phalarope? Thanks for the help!!



http://i628.photobuc...09/IMG_2684.jpg

[ColoTomo]

First bird is a Savannah Sparrow. You can even see a little bit of the yellow in the lores.

The third bird was indeed a Phalarope, but a Red-necked. (a Wilson's Phalarope would be plain white on the front of the neck)

Do you have any more pics of the second bird?

[ellie87]

Here are a couple more pics of the tern

[ColoTomo]

Because the photos are backlit, the bill is looking black which is not the true color. With the length of the outer tail feathers especially, and by range/likelihood, Forster's makes the most sense.

[ellie87]

Yeah, the lighting was pretty bad where I was. Thanks for the help!

[birder boy11]

The second one looks like a Foresters because of the long tail compared to Common terns.