9 replies to this topic

[Hopsing129]

Three birds taken in the last couple of days (standard North Texas location).
First is a Shrike, we mostly have Loggerheads here locally but this one's eye line seems much thinner, with a white eyebrow above (not normally seen here). Bill looks slightly less blunt but could be angle...thinking (hoping) Northern



Next two were tough shots. First long distance... I'm pretty sure it's an oriole but not sure of the type. I've seen Bullocks (most common), Baltimore and Orchard locally.



Last was into the sun. Don't know. Seems like white on top of breast and yellow throat?


Thanks

[blackburnian]

loggerhead shrike, orchard oriole, ?

[Liam]

1. Is a Loggerhead Shrike alright, a juvenile.
2. pass
3. Brown-headed Cowbird, female

[BarnSwallow]

I think northern shrike would be unheard-of in that area this tie of year. Range will help with IDs - not always, but it will help rule out soe birds. Sorry - keyboard is broken - all letters don't work!

[Pat B.]

I can sure see why you were thinking this might be a Northern, with the thinner mask and the white above the eye. Of course, the bill is at an odd angle, so really can't conclude anything from that. Juvies of either species should show some barring on the breast, which I don't see here. Range seems the only problem with Northern vs. Loggerhead. Sibley shows it as rare in parts of No. TX, but winter only above that, so probably really is a problem.

[psweet]

That shrike (Loggerhead, to be clear) must be an immature, probably an early hatched bird this year. The bill doesn't look long enough for a Northern even if the season was right. Here in Northern Illinois, Northern Shrike is pretty much unheard of before October, so an August bird in North Texas would be unbelievable. At the very least, you'd need a much better photograph (probably a whole series of them) before you could convince anyone.

[Hopsing129]

I knew it was out of range for this time of the year (really anytime of the year) but it looked quite a bit different than others I've seen locally, both adult and juvi. Good discussion on what to look for. PSweet wouldn't it be great if we could get a full porfolio on every bird we saw, but we all know a single picture from some of the elusive birds is all we can hope for.

Nice page on Shrikes at http://www.ofo.ca/re...es/shrikeid.php

[PoorMatty]

I also agree with Loggerhead, plus Orchard Oriole and BHC for the other two.

[psweet]

Hopsing -- that wasn't a criticism. I've got some pretty awful shots of things I only keep because they're the only ones I've got. It was just a statement of fact - if you want to convince a records committee, or even other birders, of a bird that far out of range, it takes some really good evidence.

[Hopsing129]

I agree....wasn't arguing. If the darn birds would stand still, or maybe slowly turn for various angles, life would be a lot easier for all of us. Oh, yeah, they could always stay in proper lighting.

Thanks all.