23 replies to this topic

[Clip]

Taken 7-11-12 at Cherry Creek State Park Colorado. The photo is terrible. Sorry about that. It is one of those that I zoomed in as much as possible. I hope it is enough for an ID. I really have no idea. Thanks for your help.

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[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

My immediate thought was Wren sp., leaning on Bewick's, but I'm very far from sure!

[Clip]

Just looked that up and it doesn't account for the greenish head and the reddish wings. I suppose it could be lighting that is causing those colors. I do see house wrens regularly.

[Clip]

Doesn't any one else have any ideas what this little bird might be? I have combed through my Sibley's and the two other books that I have and find nothing with this coloring.

[JimBob]

I agree with Bewick's Wren.

[Clip]

Thanks Limpkin and JimBoB that would be a lifer for me but I think I will hold off on adding it to my list. See if anyone else pipes in.

[creeker]

Maybe a Thrush, like Hermit? I'm not quite liking the tail length or position for Bewick's Wren. Not saying that's not what it is, hard to tell from this pic.

[Liam]

I originally thought a thrasher, I often see Browns perching up high in trees like that.
I definitely could see it as a wren, though.

[Clip]

My first thoughts were some type of Warbler. I think I have a mystery. Maybe some day I will see the same bird and get a better picture

[redrobin99]

Maybe a Hammond's Flycatcher ?

[Melissa :)]

I full-heartedly believe this is a wren, based on the bill length, tail, body position, and color. I'm not sure which kind of wren it is, but it is a wren, no doubt.

[BarnSwallow]

Wren was my impression, too.

[Clip]

When Limpkin wrote Wren I looked it up and I do see where he and the rest are getting Wren. The color is throwing me.

The Hammond's and a couple of other flycathers also have the right overall shape. The color still throws me. I wish I had a better camera but it is not in the budget.

[BarnSwallow]

When it's enlarged, it vaguely looks like the head might bt greenish-yellowish - the rest looks brownish - wren-colored. I've seen many, many photos - especially blurry ones - where the color is off - it can be very misleading. Shape and impression are usually more accurate.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

It may just be impossible to get a positive ID from this one.

Also, I'm a she, not a he. Just saying.

[RyanWarnerPa]

Personally I think you need to remove color from the identification equation, and here is why. With a digital camera there are three governing color "factors" one is White Balance, Auto WB is never 100% accurate (in my experience) two, is ISO the higher the ISO the less accurate the colors are, and three is sensor resolution or megapixels. A forth factor in the color equation is time of day or sun location and even weather conditions. I think the colors of this photo are false, due to the WB, ISO and weather conditions. With that being said, Clip, you could better understand how accurate the colors are in this photo by comparing it to other photos (if you have any) you took. Pay close attention to the WB values (or temp) of those photos, if you average them out and then transfer those numbers to this photos WB values you might get more accurate colors.

So here is a black and white correction with a shape outline. It does have a very Wren shape to it, but I don't understand why we are not also talking Kinglet?

[BarnSwallow]

Probably not talking kinglet because it is sitting still! Seriously, it looks like it is just sitting on the bare branch, something you never really see kinglets do.

[RyanWarnerPa]

Ok, I've never seen a Kinglet so I was just curious as to why it hadn't been thrown into the mix. Are Kinglets much like swallows? You only ever see them buzz past you.

[psweet]

No, Kinglets are more like hyperactive Chickadees. I never really considered Kinglets because they shouldn't be at Cherry Creek in July.

[RyanWarnerPa]

I didn't realize you could get more hyperactive then a Chickadee! I'm assuming not a Bushtit because of location, and activity level?