Hello,
I am having trouble identifying a bird I saw today while walking in Hartshorne's Park today, near Sandy Hook NJ. Here are the identifiers:
Bird is about the size of a Red Robin, maybe slightly smaller. Prominent White breast and white belly with brownish top colors and streaks of white & brownish/tan or beige/yellow on the head. When it flew away, there were prominent white patches visible on the tops of the wings as it flew, kind of like a Northern Mocking bird. I have never seen this bird before and I nearly stepped on him as I was walking across a grassy plain, which was surrounded by a heavy wooded area and about 100 yards from a river (about a mile from the ocean). The bird was alone and my initial reaction was that it was injured but it flew about 20 feet and proceeded to walk and it appeared to be foraging. As I approached him again, it flew away and the white markings on the top of the wings as he flew were visible. He landed maybe 40 yards away in the grass. The white on the wings (only visible when in flight) and the pure white underbelly are what really stuck out for me.
Of course, I did not have my camera or a notepad so that is pretty much all I can remember. Being close to the shore and Sandy Hook, there are many migratory birds that pass through the area. I'm completely stumped, any help is greatly appreciated!
