Bird ID

13 years ago

Saw this at my feeder and having trouble ID'ing it.
finch and sparrow sized.
Follow link for another close up photo.
Thanks for any help,
Charles

Here is a link that might be useful: Bird Pics

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Comments (9)

beegood_gw
13 years ago
A bit fuzzy but looks like Rose breasted grosbeak to me.
cpackjr
Original Author
13 years ago
That was one of my initial thoughts. This one is smaller, has a reddish head, (seen in the link below the picture)and that white collar all the way around his throat, nothing like any image I've seen of the grosbeak. Thanks
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molanic
13 years ago
The other picture shows it a little better I think. My best guess is a purple finch. Cassin's finch is only out west I think, but similar. The belly is awfully bright, but on a google image search there is a lot of variation in purple finches and how far spread or bright the reddish color is.
birding_nut
13 years ago
I would agree with the other pic, Purple Finch.

BN
Aurore
13 years ago
I have no idea offhand, but looking through my bird book it appears to look most like a bay-breasted warbler. It has the whitish neck patch.
kendra2003
13 years ago
The first picture makes it hard to tell, but the second picture of it on the feeder is a good one. I agree with others, it is a Purple Finch.
User
13 years ago
Possibly a Repoll?

Here is a link that might be useful: Repoll
tmff
13 years ago
I find it fascinating that some of the most interesting bird specimens occur in our own backyards. This is an interesting bird.

Three things that need to be kept in mind for plausible bird IDing are these: does the bird normally occur in that area, does the bird occur in that area during THAT SEASON, and is this bird engaging in behavior typical for the suspected species. Using these guidelines, we can quickly rule out Rose-breasted Grosbeak (a summertime only visitor to WV) and Bay-breasted Warbler (a bird that only visits the US in the summer and its range does not even include WV. Also, they are not "feeder" birds).

I had to take a close look at this to rule out a Common Redpoll. Once I saw the close up photo I could see the head is mostly red (redpolls have a red spot only) and the dark lines on the head and lack of chest streaking rule out the redpoll (among some other things as well).

In the winter, when seeing red birds at US feeders, one has to rule out Crossbills. This bird is not a Crossbill.

This brings us to the Purple Finch. This bird has interesting plumage but it still fits that of a purple finch. The bill is not as thick as a House Finch but otherwise House Finch sized bird- check. Dark ear patch, cap, and malar stripe- check. A light-colord belly and lack of streaking on the underside- check. Location, season, and behavior all fit. Your bird is a MALE PURPLE FINCH with an interesting white collar. Purple Finches can vary significantly from bird to bird.
User
13 years ago
Some very good tips there TMFF!