7 replies to this topic

[babybear]

 grosbeak.jpg   283.21K   130 downloads  towhee.jpg   1002.38K   126 downloadsI live in west central Missouri..here's the 2 birds....they're tons of them...please help! Thank you

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Welcome to Whatbird! Your first shot shows a female Baltimore Oriole, I believe, and the second shows a male Orchard Oriole.

[psweet]

Orchard Orioles.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Agree with male and female orchard oriole. I think the lighting in the first pic is just making her look a little more orange than normal.

[babybear]

Thanks, I really appreciate the expertise!

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Agree with male and female orchard oriole. I think the lighting in the first pic is just making her look a little more orange than normal.

I concede, I have little experience with either species. How did you rule out Baltimore?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I know its not the best diagnostic, but bill shape really stands out to me with these guys. Additionally, female Orchards have a more uniformly colored head, where Baltimores tend to have some darker markings on the face and cap.

In good lighting, the overall color is very different. Baltimores have a distinct orange hue, while Orchards appear green overall. I think the lighting is giving this one a bit of an orange cast, but I'd expect it to be much stronger for a Baltimore.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

I know its not the best diagnostic, but bill shape really stands out to me with these guys. Additionally, female Orchards have a more uniformly colored head, where Baltimores tend to have some darker markings on the face and cap.

In good lighting, the overall color is very different. Baltimores have a distinct orange hue, while Orchards appear green overall. I think the lighting is giving this one a bit of an orange cast, but I'd expect it to be much stronger for a Baltimore.

Awesome, thanks!