16 replies to this topic

[timb]

All of these photos were taken in or just outside of Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado on September 4, 2012.

1. Mountain Bluebird


2. Chipping Sparrow?


3. Green-tailed Towhee


4. Clark's Nutcracker


5. Vesper Sparrow?


Tim

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I agree with all your IDs...some neat birds in there!

[birdbrain22]

I agree with all your IDs...some neat birds in there!

Me too!

[Liam]

Is the Green-tailed Towhee just a particularly drab individual? The one in Georgia this January had more green on the wing and tail. I do see some color on the wings and tail of this bird, but they're not as vibrant as photos I've seen or the illustration in Sibley's. Is Canyon Towhee out of the question?

I'll probably end up looking stupid. I can't see these colors, so bear with me here.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Is the Green-tailed Towhee just a particularly drab individual? The one in Georgia this January had more green on the wing and tail. I do see some color on the wings and tail of this bird, but they're not as vibrant as photos I've seen or the illustration in Sibley's. Is Canyon Towhee out of the question?

I'll probably end up looking stupid. I can't see these colors, so bear with me here.

These guys can be surpringly dull (I've seen a few immatures that have really thrown me off). I think Canyon could be possible, but the red on the crown seems to bright and extensive, imo. I'm not getting much green though, so you could be onto something (I think I see a bit in the tail).

[Liam]

These guys can be surpringly dull (I've seen a few immatures that have really thrown me off). I think Canyon could be possible, but the red on the crown seems to bright and extensive, imo. I'm not getting much green though, so you could be onto something (I think I see a bit in the tail).

I don't see any red on the crown, but I believe you. I was wary suggesting Canyon since there don't seem to be any reports from the given location on eBird.

[timb]

I only got two photos of the towhee; neither very good. Here's a crop of the other one.


Tim

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Hmm, I don't see any green at all on that second shot. Cap still looks extensively red. Any of you western birders want to throw in your opinion on this guy? I've only seen about 10 Green-tails before, so I'm far from an expert...

[Pat B.]

Western birder here. I've been seeing GTTOs lately and I will say that the ones I see are never as bright in the green parts as those shown by Sibley. The overall impression is of a dull greenish-gold on those parts and a rusty/brownish rather than reddish crown, with a very Towhee-like shape and scratching behavior. My first thought was GTTO when I saw the photos, but I wasn't figuring Canyon into the mix (never seen one). Either should be possible in southern CO. I'm not sure the photo is clear enough to call it.

[birdbrain22]

To me...I see green in the tail and even on the wing in the first pic. Undertail should be rusty in a Canyon as well... but here appears light colored which is also good for GT Towhee. Plus that crown is awfully bright.


Is it possible to post an uncropped pic? Sometimes that actually helps.

[eripma]

Definitely Green-tailed Towhee. You can see a bit of green in the tail and primaries in the first pic. The rufous cap also rules out Canyon which also shows a reddish cap but not to this extent.

[creeker]

Green-tailed for me, no doubt.

[Liam]

[timb]

Finally made it back. Here's the original image.



Tim

[psweet]

Agree with Green-tailed Towhee -- for one thing, a Canyon Towhee should have rusty undertail coverts.

[timb]

Thanks everyone, I particularly enjoyed the discussion on the towhee. Learned quite a bit.

Tim

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Thanks everyone, I particularly enjoyed the discussion on the towhee. Learned quite a bit.

Tim

Thanks for posting it! I'm sure everyone involved learned something, too! I know I always do on the challenging shots that really make me think.