18 replies to this topic

[Carolina]

1. Confirm male Indigo Buntings

Taken 4/26/12 at window feeder at my office in Beaufort SC



This one & next 3 taken 4/28/12 at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in Green Pond SC

There were two of these handsome fellas singing away in the late afternoon




2. Field Sparrow? Uncertain about this one. Taken around 7:30pm in brush off a clearing near the dirt rd.



3. This one popped out of the scrub/brush while I was getting shots of the Indigo Buntings. Am having a
hard time settling on an ID. Have been working on it for days so finally decided to see what others think.



4. Not really expecting an solid ID on this one but some of you can get IDs from some unexpected shots so thought might as well give it a try.
Flew up from a old log beside the road. Saw it flutter down behind the log before it popped back up for me to grab this one shot.

[Liam]

1-2. Yep, Indigo Bunting
3. Pretty sure this is also an Indigo Bunting, a juvenile male. You can see some blue on the face.
4. juvenile male(?) Summer Tanager
5. Looks like a Chipping Sparrow.

[Parula]

1 to 3 indigo buntings
4 maybe pine warbler
5 chipping sparrow

[JimBob]

I agree with parula. But I would like to see other thought on bird 4 because it doesn't quite look like a Pine Warbler, that was just the best I could come up with. Any other pictures?

[Liam]

Actually, my very first thought on bird (1) 4 was female Olive Warbler, but that's impossible.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Do you mean bird 4, Liam? I know colors aren't your strong suit, but that's quite a stretch for an indigo haha

[Liam]

Oops, yes, meant bird 4!

[JimBob]

So any other thoughts?

[JimBob]

Actually, my very first thought on bird (1) 4 was female Olive Warbler, but that's impossible.

Yeah it looks a lot like that but it is impossible.

[Carolina]

Sorry it took so long to respond...computer issues...

Had a very hard time trying to ID this bird but thought it was my ID skills that was the problem but the actual problem may be in the quality of the shot.

The yellowish coloring on the head along with the yellow that does not make all the way down the front of the body and the defined greyish markings on the face was what I was trying to match up to an ID. Was leaning more towards a Pine Warbler ID but that just didn't feel firm so thought it might be something that I wasn't considering..

There is only the one shot but here is a super cropped version that may help.

[bushwacker]

might #4 be a female black throated green?

[Triplefeather]

Does anyone else see a female Tennessee Warbler?

[JimBob]

I wouldn't expect such a yellow coloration on a Tennessee Warbler, male or female.

[Triplefeather]

I suppose your right, now that I look closer at my book. Still, the Olive Warbler is impossible; it's also too grey. I can't really see it being anything but a female Tennessee Warbler.

[Liam]

It's most likely a 1st spring male Pine Warbler. It has to be a Pine Warbler (or Olive Warbler) with that coloration. The bill is too large for a Tennessee Warbler.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

It's most likely a 1st spring male Pine Warbler. It has to be a Pine Warbler (or Olive Warbler) with that coloration. The bill is too large for a Tennessee Warbler.

Agree. I think his transition plumage just looks a little odd.

[Carolina]

It's most likely a 1st spring male Pine Warbler. It has to be a Pine Warbler (or Olive Warbler) with that coloration. The bill is too large for a Tennessee Warbler.

Agree. I think his transition plumage just looks a little odd.

Think that both of you & Parula are probably right as much as I would like this bird to be something a bit more unusual.

Thanks to all that helped with all of these IDs especially this more difficult one.

@Jimbob,,,really appreciate you getting this discussion going. Loved getting so many viewpoints & opinions.

@bushwacker...yes...female black throated green was one of my top considerations but could not find any photos online where the yellow went so far down the belly

@Triplefeather...considered the Tennessee Warbler but the tone of the yellow didn't seem quite right & not in quite the right places.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

5. Looks like a Chipping Sparrow.

I dunno, Liam - in late April all of the Chipping Sparrows should have chestnut caps, not the flecky brown lateral crown stripes, shouldn't they? Looks more like an overexposed Song Sparrow or something to me from this photo, but I'd be more comfortable calling in Sparrow Sp. without another shot.

[Liam]

I dunno, Liam - in late April all of the Chipping Sparrows should have chestnut caps, not the flecky brown lateral crown stripes, shouldn't they? Looks more like an overexposed Song Sparrow or something to me from this photo, but I'd be more comfortable calling in Sparrow Sp. without another shot.

The crown is in the shadows. Song Sparrows don't show that wingbar.