skip to main content

Don't know what this one is

12 years ago

Mercer County, IL. Very rural. Mixed forest and prairie and farming. Shot from a distance. I thought it's head was tufted. Brightening the photo which may alter it untrue, there appears to be yellow on the upper breast. Could just be as I said an untrue altering. Unfortunately I shot these photos at a distance and almost due west toward the setting sun.

Original photo: Now I'd: Male Dickcissel

Zoomed in w/o blurring it. Now I'D: Male Dickcissel
{{gwi:500348}}

You can click on the photo and then click on the magnifier a few times to keep enlarging it. I didn't know photobucket did that until the other day. So I'm mentioning it.

Thanks much,

Dax

This post was edited by gardener365 on Wed, May 22, 13 at 10:25

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

MarcusFinch
12 years ago
You might well be looking at a Goldfinch there my friend, if it's still in the area you could try and bring it closer for a better look with some different kinds of feed, i'll ad a useful link to soemwhere you can get them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bird Foods
TulsaRose
12 years ago
Dax, I took the liberty of editing your image and you can see a little more detail in this shot. I'm curious, too, but I don't think it is a Goldfinch.
Related Discussions
What is this vegetable plant?
Q
Comments (16)
Thanks - I didn't notice the heart-shaped leaves on the beans last year or this (have about 50% germination with 3 kinds I planted a week ago, didn't water them in, but we're getting rain all this week so should have more germinating). And I try to pull that bindweed as soon as I see it, no more than 6" tall ;-) I'm still curious since OP says the seed for this one didn't look like a bean, and I'm sure she would have noticed the thick "bean" head pushing up when it germinated and the half-bean-shaped cots a little later. I also didn't notice that the cots and stem were dark-colored on the black (Kentucky Wonder) beans I planted last year, but they are on the black (Jackson Wonder and Cherokee Wax) beans this year! Please keep us posted on the progress! (I don't know beans...)
...See More
Diseases in Garden
Q
Comments (24)
It is hard enough to diagnose diseases when a person is looking at the plant let alone by pictures. I hesitate to say as there are more than one possibility. I will say I don't feel it is an insect borne disease. But that still leaves several possibilities. There are many factors that a lay person needs to know to diagnose with any accuracy. Weather conditions over the last few weeks will eliminate some and promote others. I had severe disease problems the last 3 years. Knock on wood so far this year has been a good one. Another helpful tool is knowing what diseases are common in your area. What I usually do on disease issues I'm not sure about especially if it is something affecting several plants is I send one to K-State and have it diagnosed. Here our extension agents aren't strong in vegetable diseases. You may have a local agent who is and they will likely know what diseases others are seeing this year. I would try locally first and then send to the state university that offers diagnoses if needed. Here it is free. I'm not sure about CO but would assume it is. Jay
...See More
Stunted leaves on this rose, don't know whats going on.
Q
Comments (10)
RSD from what I've read and from talking with the scientist whose post Doc isolated the virus is in a lot of roses. Many years you won't see it. Other years, the conditions (whatever they are) will be just right for the symptom to show in spring, and then .....poof, it's apparently gone. I know someone in Pennsylvania who saw it on all the wild roses of one species on a mountainside in back of his house (but not on the other species there.) The next year, none of them showed it. It may be spreadable through root to root graft, but it doesn't seem toaffect the growth or productivity of the bushes. In your hot growing conditions, if you decide to keep the bush, I'd be interested in hearing how it starts next spring. Until three years ago, it wasn't even proved to be a virus and with ephemeral symptoms, it was easily overlooked.
...See More
What's going on with my Asparagus Bean plants?
Q
Comments (14)
Wisterianico (little white moth-looking flies) probably white fly. https://www.google.ca/search?q=thrips&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZ8a6OieDRAhVY8WMKHUZVDfcQ_AUICCgB&biw=1218&bih=763#tbm=isch&q=white+fly If a plant has these when touched or bumped white flies will rise in s little cloud above it. White fly is attracted to yellow so yellow sticky traps are quite often used. A funny, well maybe not so funny story, Some friends were having a real white fly problem no matter what they did or used they couldn't get rid of them in their greenhouse. When I went into their greenhouse I started to laugh, they had painted the inside frame of their greenhouse yellow. They repainted the frame white, and once they sprayed again no more white fly. Thrips are minute sized sucking insects they look like this. https://www.google.ca/search?q=thrips&biw=1218&bih=763&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjX9PyGjeDRAhVG0GMKHd4hC30Q_AUIBigB Hope this helps. Annette
...See More
MarcusFinch
12 years ago
I'm thoroughly stumped, I love the plumage but it's making me think of many different species that donw have a beak like the bird in the picture.
gardener365
Original Author
12 years ago
It's twice the height of a Goldfinch and it's much broader. It's a medium size bird, not as tall as a cardinal but wider in the belly. I appreciate the guesses and the help!

Dax
tmff
12 years ago
This is a Dickcissel. Male. Lovely bird.
rebeccah_2009
12 years ago
TMFF is right. It's a Dickcissel. Lucky you! We rarely see them here anymore.
gardener365
Original Author
12 years ago
You guys nailed it!

A response just came in from a professor at the college my Mom works at:

"Hi Dax, this is a male Dickcissel. The name is derived from what humans might hear in the male's song. They just got into town a few weeks ago and are starting to set up territories for breeding."

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it.

Dax
tmff
12 years ago
Dax, here on the Great Plains they are one of my favorite summertime bird species. Enjoy! Their song kind of signifies summertime for me. I just adore 'em.
gardener365
Original Author
12 years ago
I'll be on the lookout now and my ear to the wind!

Cheers, everyone...

Dax
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
12 years ago
Thanks for posting this, Dax. I've not seen one before.

tj
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
12 years ago
In November, 2009 I saw a bird hanging around with the House Sparrows that had a bit of yellow on it. Otherwise, it looked similar to the sparrows and fit in very well. I'm in Plymouth, MA.

I finally got a few photos and after searching the guides and emailing Project FeederWatch I discovered it was a female Dickcissel. Apparently Massachusetts was part of their original range but they're not often seen here now.

Here the Dickcissel (front and center with the rufous shoulder patch) is feeding with a bunch of House Sparrows.

Since then I look a little suspiciously at the House Sparrows wondering what else is lurking there. I've never seen a male Dickcissel.

Claire
catherinet
12 years ago
Great catch with those pictures Claire! Lucky you!
tmff
12 years ago
Pretty cool to get a migrating Dickcissel at your feeder, Claire! That is a treat. You really never know what you'll see.

Related Stories

HOME TECH On the Internet, Nobody Knows You're a Lamp

Home appliances and devices are poised to get on the Internet and start messaging one another. Here's why that'll be great for you

MATERIALS Insulation Basics: What to Know About Spray Foam

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Learn what exactly spray foam is, the pros and cons of using it and why you shouldn’t mess around with installation

KNOW YOUR HOUSE Know Your House: Components of a Roof

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Don't get held up by confusion over trusses, rafters and purlins. Learn about a roof's features and their purposes here

WORKING WITH PROS What Do Landscape Architects Do?

By Falon Mihalic

There are many misconceptions about what landscape architects do. Learn what they bring to a project

FURNITURE Know When to Fold 'Em

When space is tight, look for furniture that cleverly collapses, expands or fills more than one role

GREAT HOME PROJECTS What to Know Before Refinishing Your Floors

Learn costs and other important details about renewing a hardwood floor — and the one mistake you should avoid

WHITE What to Know Before You Paint Your Walls White

By Kimberly Collins Jermain

A coat of white paint can do wonders in one room and wreak havoc in another. Here are tips for using the popular hue

LIFE Tell Us: Do You Know How to Live With Your Parents?

By Becky Harris

If you've tried multigenerational living under one roof, we'd love to hear the details

FURNITURE What to Know Before Buying Bar Stools

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Learn about bar stool types, heights and the one key feature that will make your life a whole lot easier

LIGHTING What to Know About Switching to LED Lightbulbs

By Karen Egly-Thompson

If you’ve been thinking about changing over to LEDs but aren't sure how to do it and which to buy, this story is for you

Sponsored

Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc.

100 Reviews

VA & MD Architectural Design-Build Firm | 6x Best of Houzz Winner