Whatbird.com

I found this site on my quest to identify a flock of small birds that have been at my bird feeder since Thursday. I am in the same basic geographic area as Vince from Union Mississippi and I think we have the same bird. I live on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. I too have a small, bunting sized bird at my feeder. I have examined the possibility of a indigo bunting and blue grosebeak. This resembles a bunting, except it had a distinct yellow bill. I have tried all day to get a decent picture, but have been unable. I have probably 4 pairs at my feeder. The male is brilliant blue with some darker blue on the tips of the wings. The tail is notched just a bit. The female is a drab olive color with hints of a more muted blue. Again, she has the yellow bill. The closest thing I can find is maybe it is a wandering species. It looks just like the pictures I see of a Blue Bunting from Mexico, however, again, the yellow bill. Same coloring and tail. We have had a very mild winter. Is it possible the Blues migrated this way and have not left? I have never seen them before Thursday. I will continue to try and get a picture to get posted. Any assistance will be appreciated. Thank you!

If you can, try and take a picture

You are the 2nd person to ask about a blue bird with a yellow bill. Please try to get a photo if possible, I would be very interested in seeing these yellow-billed birds! Thanks!

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Would it be absurd for it to be something like a Yucatan Jay?

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I saw the same type of bird in Marietta, GA this afternoon.  Brilliant blue with a very definite yellow bill.  It left the feeder before I had the opportunity to get a picture.

Wow this is really an ellusive bird...

European Starling maybe???

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Joseph Morlan
Fall Birding Classes in San Francisco start September 15

It must be more blue than that because all of these peoples first impressions of the body color is blue. When i look at a starling blue isnt the first color to come to mind. It could be though we havnt seen a picture yet...

We live near Chattanooga, TN and my daughter and I saw a blue bird that looked just like our yellow finches in body but was totally blue.

I've been looking for it all afternoon on the web and the closest thing that comes to it lives in Brazil. 

I'll try to take a picture of it tomorrow if it returns and post it.  Maybe it is the same species?  I'd like to know what it is.  We are bird watchers and have never seen one of these before here.

Hello,

I had a whole flock of what sounds like the same type of bird at my feeder a few days ago.  They were quite a bit smaller than a "regular" blue bird and vivid blue with a bright yellow beak.  There were about 8-10 in the flock and absolutely beautiful.  I live in Biloxi, MS (for 10 years) and have never seen this bird before.  I am also having trouble finding what species it is.  I would not be surprised if they are tropical in nature.

Is it possible that all our mysterious yellow-billed birds are simply indigo bunting's with the sun reflecting off their shiny bill in a way that appears yellow???  Their bills often look white or silver to me when seen in the sunlight.  Also, perhaps our observers are catching glimpses of the interior of the bills, which can be yellow.

 Is this the bird: http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/BuntingIndigoM02.jpg ?

 Since they are most likely not breeding yet, they should be in mixed flocks.  If these mystery blue birds or often seen in the company of duller, brown birds of similar size and shape, we may have found our answer.

OK, today I was watching and we had 2 of the birds come back.  I got a few pictures of them and maybe these are the ones you are talking about?

 Hopefully someone here knows what they are.  I am thinking they are Indigo Buntings, however we are not suppoed to have those here.

 Here are a couple of pictures:

In the tree with another finch.

Appears to be an indigo bunting to me.  Where are you?  Why do you think you should not have indigos where you are?

I see from an earlier post that you are from Biloxi.  I live in Vicksburg and you can trust me when I say that not only do they summer here with us in good numbers, they will become one of the more vocal birds singing for long periods as the summer wears on.

Tony, I am 37 miles NORTH of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  We've never had these here before.  I guess that is why I have been so intrigued with them.  I've fed our finches and other birds for years but this is our first year seeing these.

Where are you?  Are they common to your area?