This bird looks like some sort of finch to me--maybe a juvenile? The beak is heavy like a finch's, a yellowish flesh colored beak and legs, tail almost looks like it is two feathers that each curve out to the side. When it flew off the tail was parted so that it was a very pronounced V. I shot several photos and also got one shot of another bird that was along with this one and it was mostly brown with none of the pronounced white that is on this bird-but same shape beaks and beak and leg color.
Location was Venice, Florida at the South Jetty this past Sunday, 8-10-08 around 8:30 AM. I am used to seeing shore birds out there and a lot of grackles but I didn't expect this little bird. I've gone through my Sibley guide, an Audubon guide and two Florida bird books and I'm having to say uncle and ask for help. I can find ones with the same look but the coloration is off and I've done online searches for images of ones it looked most like as adults and juveniles to see if I'd find one with this color as a youngster. No luck!
Thanks!
