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I live in deep South Texas close to the Mexico border.  There has been a new bird feeding in my backyard now for about 2 weeks.  It is about the size of a red-wing blackbird, and very agressive like a jay.  It is primarily black with a white band with a touch of gold at the throat, a squared tail with about 2 inches of white at the tip and a small amount of white on the wing tips.   Any ideas.  It is the only one we have seen.  Must not have any friends.  I have searched the books and web and have not found a pic.  

 

Thanks

Welcome to the board.  Since this bird comes back often can you get a picture?  Sounds like a neat bird and that would help so much.

I thought of a white-collared seedeater, which is found in the US only at the very southern tip of Texas.  It also would come to a feeder, but it's not a perfect match for your description and is much smaller than a red-winged blackbird. Try to get a good look at the shape of the beak and an accurate assessment of the bird's size. And yes, a photo would greatly help to nail it down.

Almost sounds like an American Redstart, male. Just a hunch.

I looked at the white-collared seedeater and the American Redstart, neither of those birds are the one in my yard.  His tail is straight across the bottom and about a third of it from the tip up is bright white.  The white goes all around his neck with a pale tinge of yellow or gold under his head.  The tips have barely a white edge.  I looked at every picture of Texas birds and did not see him.  I have tried to get a picture but he comes with about 100 red-wing black birds and the smallest thing makes them all fly away, or he will be too high in the tree.  Maybe that's why his picture isn't in any book!  Ha...he doesn't want it taken but I will keep trying.  Thanks for all your help.

Check out the picture of a Female Yellow Headed Blackbird at the following Link.

 Could this be your bird?

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-headed_Blackbird.html

 

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Don't cry because it's over, smile because you were there.

The bird in the image you posted is the Male.  The female looks a lot different.

The pic is further down the page.

Thanks, but no that is not my bird.  My bird is black everywhere except the wide white band arount his neck with just a tinge of yellow in front and the white on his tail.  

I am still trying to get a picture.  Thanks

                      Donna

The closest I can figure, given the description and your location.....would be either a black phobee or a greater pewee Do either one of these look like the bird you've seen?

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The photo shown is Barnie. My faithful and loving companion of 18 years, who passed into the next life on 11-8-2008. God rest her soul! She's missed!

Perhaps a juvenile Eurasian collared dove?

 

http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/eurasian_collared_dove_2.htm

that's all gray with a black ring on the neck and they said this bird's all black....

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Collared-Dove.html

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The photo shown is Barnie. My faithful and loving companion of 18 years, who passed into the next life on 11-8-2008. God rest her soul! She's missed!

There's only a handful of birds that have that much while on the tail. Cuckoos are too big. Juvy ECDO & WWDO are about the right size, are sometimes aggressive and perception of color can be affected by the lighting conditions.

I have gotten a picture of my odd black and white bird but I don't know how to post it. Help

Hi,

Here's a link to a recent post on how to post an image.  It worked for me.  Hope it helps!

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/forums/32694/ShowThread.aspx#32694

You can always post it in the gallery and post the link here if you can't get it to work.

Good luck - I can't wait to see your bird!

Nancy