6 replies to this topic

[Kappie]

Help! I'm very super brand new to bird watching and bird identification, I started off well but am now totally stumped! I live on Whidbey Island in Washington state and saw a bird today at a beach house and it's not in any of the bird books and didn't come up in the search on here. It was not on the beach/in the sand. It landed on the flat roof of the garage and there are lots of trees, bushes and grasses here too. It had a black beak, a gray belly/chest, a black throat patch, a black head, a white ring around it's neck, and a reddish back. It didn't sing just looked at me a minute and flew off. All I can find is the other way around with a red front a black/gray back! Thanks!

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Try a Male House Sparrow?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

and welcome to Whatbird!

[BarnSwallow]

Killdeer?

[Kappie]

It looked more like the Male House Sparrow than the killdeer. But still didn't quite look like that, it was prettier. I don't remember it having a black mask like that. I'm second guessing myself now if it's whole head was black or what it looked like. And if it's back or it's wings or both were reddish. But I'm positive about the black beak, gray front with a black patch on it's throat and red in the back. Hopefully I will see it again and be able to take a pic of it, thanks!

[ColoTomo]

Did you try American Tree Sparrow ? You're in the winter range, but maybe a late migrant from far down south ? I know only the top part of the bill is black, so if you saw the top and bottom black, you can rule it out.

or Chipping Sparrow?

Was the bird sparrow sized, I take it ? Any streaking anywhere?

[Kappie]

No, it looked more like the male house sparrow. I'm thinking it was now. It's just the black patch on it's neck was very dark and solid and predominant along with a very white predominant ring around it's neck and the pics I see of them they look more mottled than this one did. I hope to see it again soon and confirm now that I know more of what I'm looking for, thanx!