7 replies to this topic

[morganirich]

Hi,

Bald Eagle is pretty obvious - i'm just so proud! Pretty sure about hummingbirds and i'm not sure about the Marten. Eagle was near Delaware River in Pennsylvania, hummingbirds and Marten? were near a cottage on a pond in Pennsylvania.

thx!

http://www.flickr.co...os/morganirich/

[meghann]

I believe that rather than a purple martin, you have an eastern kingbird there.

[BarnSwallow]

Yes, I agree with eastern kingbird. The correct name for the hummers is ruby-throated hummingbird. Nice birds!

[morganirich]

The Eastern Kingbird looks alot like the tree swallows in the pic lower on that page - any tips for me so i know for next time? are both id's right now?

[meghann]

The tail shape is one easy mark to look at. Note the difference in shape between the kingbird and the tree swallows' tails.

Edit- Another thing is the size of the beak. If you notice, the tree swallows have a much smaller one compared to the rest of their head.

[morganirich]

great thx

[BarnSwallow]

It's funny - in real life, I would never confuse the two, but they are much easier to confuse in pictures. Their behavior, flight style, and posture are quite different.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Also, Eastern Kingbirds have very distinct white tips to their tail feathers that form a white band at the end of the tail. Its one of the best field marks for the species, imo, especially at a distance.