skip to main content

new bird id help

9 years ago

I've been seeing so many new birds that I can't identify and it's driving me crazy! I just started bird watching abt the beginning of the year or maybe December.

Anyway, this is a small red bird, abt the size of a goldfinch, with black and white wing and tail feathers that look zebra-like. It looks like somebody took an american gold finch and dipped it in red paint and all the gold parts turned red. The difference is the red bird does not have the black patch on the top of the head like the goldfinch does.

It's not a house finch or a purple finch (smaller and redder), and it's not a scarlet tanager (bcs of zebra striped wings), not a vermillion flycatcher, nothing I have seen on the internet after hours of searching.

2 of them came back this morning but were gone by the time I could grab my binoculars. Any ideas?

Featured Answer

Atlamol

9 years ago

And not a white-winged crossbill? Maybe an exotic. Where do you live?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

User
Original Author
9 years ago
Sorry, I accidentally posted twice and can't figure out how to delete.
Related Discussions
New Bird ID Please
Q
Comments (6)
Now I'm not so sure...this bird is brown, not black and has no white on the wings or anywhere else that I can see. The tail is similar to a brown thrasher's. It does not fit the description on http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-headed_Blackbird/id
...See More
Can't ID this this Wisconsin new bird
Q
Comments (4)
White crowned sparrows have been plentiful during migration this spring. We've had many reports here in MN and I had one in my yard the other day ... something I'd been hoping for the last 5+ years!
...See More
New to birdwatching, want to verify bird id
Q
Comments (3)
Awww...I hope I see a baby flicker! My baby wrens flew away last week (I know, house wrens are bad..but they nested before I knew what they were!) and it was really sweet to see them trying out their wings. As for becoming addicted, I already am!! Due to health issues, I've become fairly housebound, and I find myself watching the birds far more than the television! Sometimes I feel like if I stop watching for a moment, I'll miss something really special..lol!! My husband is actually going to build a small deck off of our master bedroom for "optimal bird viewing"...that side of our house faces the woods and the feeding station I have set up in the side yard...it's the perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying all of the critters that visit the yard!
...See More
Please help me I.D. this new bird sound
Q
Comments (7)
The Towhees around here-East Tennessee-certainly sing the "Drink" part of their song, also the "Tea" part-sometimes written as towhee. This am I heard "Drink, drink, drink....long pause...your tea" Then just "drink drink..." I think it's a little later in the year when I hear the "tea" or "towhee" part alone. Right now I have an Eastern Wood Peewee that repeats "pee-oh-wee" over & over & it's kinda mournful sounding. He sings from a cedar tree in a small cemetary across the road & it seems fitting somehow. Susan
...See More
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What Atlamol said or a pine grosbeak, perhaps?

tj
User thanked tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Atlamol, I was just coming to post a pic I found of a white winged crossbill! But there are 2 probs: 1) I haven't gotten a good look at the beAk yet and 2) I live in northwest GA. My book shows there may be a pocket of red crossbills in this area but does not show any white winged presence. It also says they very rarely show up at feeders but that's where I'm seeing these birds.

tsugajunki, I also thought pine grosbeak for a while but then realized it's larger than the bird I'm seeing.

There are quite a few of these in my yard - maybe up to 10. What in the world would they be doing so far away from their territory? According to my book (Peterson) they don't even migrate here.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Well, if it looks like a white-winged crossbill (except for verifying the bill), then I'd lean that way. Birds can and do show up sometimes where books say they are rare. Keep those binoc's (and/or camera) handy and let us know about the bill.

tj
Atlamol
9 years ago
If it were just one or two birds, or if you lived in someplace like Florida or southern California where there are a lot of exotic birds gone wild, I would just shrug them off as escaped cage birds. But ten birds in northwest Georgia sounds like a native species. There are no Georgia records for white- winged crossbills, not even as accidentals (as you note, there are for red crossbills). Are there females in that flock? What do they look like? Gotta get a picture! And if they do turn out to be w.w. Crossbills and you have a good picture, there is probably a Georgia rare bird committee that would like to see it.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
My binoculars are borrowed and not very good and I can't get anywhere near the birds - they fly away at the sight of me. My real camera is broken and my phone camera is worthless. So I may never know. It already seems there are fewer of them.
PRO
moico inc.
9 years ago
There is a fantastic app called " Merlin Bird ID" - t's fun to use and I've found it very easy to determine what birds I have using it . Try it -fabulous!
User thanked moico inc.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Shoot! I don't have enough space to install it. I'll have to wait until I can figure out what can be deleted.

Thanks! Can't wait to give it a try!

Related Stories

EARTH DAY How to Help Your Town’s Beneficial Birds and Bugs

By Annie Thornton

Make a habitat using local materials to provide a home to the creatures that help our gardens

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Be a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Northern Cardinals in the Snow, and Other Red Birds

By Habitat Network

Brilliant crimson feathers make these friends stand out in a crowd

GARDENING GUIDES You Don't Need Prairie to Help Pollinators

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Woodlands, marshes, deserts — pollinators are everywhere

BATHROOM WORKBOOK Standard Dimensions and Measurements for a Primary Bath

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Create a luxe bathroom that functions well with these key fixture dimensions and layout tips

STANDARD MEASUREMENTS The Right Dimensions for Your Porch

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Depth, width, proportion and detailing all contribute to the comfort and functionality of this transitional space

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Native Plants Help You Find Your Garden Style

By Oakley Gardens

Imagine the garden of your dreams designed with plants indigenous to your region

Ideabook 911: Help Me Finish My Foyer

By Becky Harris

STANDARD MEASUREMENTS Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Home

Architect Steven Randel has taken the measure of each room of the house and its contents. You’ll find everything here

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Saturated Colors Help a 1920s Fixer-Upper Flourish

By Mad Mod Home

Bright paint and cheerful patterns give this Spanish-style Los Angeles home a thriving new personality

More Discussions

ID OWL IN S.E. MICHIGAN z5b

0