ID help please

I took the photos of this bird Dec. 22, 2013.  I was just going through this and others I took at Fort De Soto, Pinellas County, Gulf Coast, central FL.  I realized I have no idea where to even look in a guide as far as getting a proper ID.  Any help would be so very appreciated.  Thanks. -SLB

What bird is this?

This is one of those situations where I sighted the bird, went through the guides, and think I found out what it is, but am not confident enough to label the photo and walk away.  Can you help me out here?

2013_09_08 Sawgrass Lake

2013_09_08 Sawgrass Lake

 

 

Now I really need some help…

This is not a test (as the old saying goes): This time around, I would really appreciate your help with the following immature/juvenile bird photos. As you can see in the photos below, one of these birds had a relatively thin, black bill and the other’s is yellowish and a bit bigger (in the field, I thought they were the same bird, oddly enough). You can obtain a larger photo by clicking on the images below.

I am guessing that the first is a warbler, maybe a Yellow-rumped Warbler and that the other is some sort of finch or sparrow (maybe a Pine Siskin?). Are there any experts in immature passerines who can help me out? Neither of these birds are lifers for me, of course, but I would love to clear up the mystery. BTW, they were taken a few days ago in Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC.

Mystery bird 1 (Finch or Sparrow?)

Mystery bird 2 (Warbler?)

Mystery bird 2 (Warbler?)

Mystery Woodpecker

So this time around, I will challenge you with a woodpecker that stumped me at first (although I had my suspicions right from the start). I took this photo on Canada’s West Coast, in Vancouver, BC’s Stanley Park. To provide a bit of context, this bird was taken on a conifer, close to a Douglas Fir grove, in the first half of August. It wasn’t making much noise except for the occasional “peeps” characteristic of many smaller woodpeckers. It measured about 20-25 cm (8-9 inches, if you are metrically challenged). After a look at my books and some careful Googling, the answer seemed obvious to me. Can you figure it out? (If you need another look, I’ve posted another picture of the same individual on my personal blog.)

Please help me! What is this bird? (Closed)

Please help ID me

I saw this bird today at the Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota, Florida.  I have an idea of what it might be, although the white chest and belly and the white ring around struck me as strange.  What do you think this bird is?

Can you identify this pair of flycatchers (Tyrannidea)?(Closed)

This pair of flycatchers was taken in Vernon, BC (in the Okanagan Valley) in early August. Clues: ring around the eyes, length of wings and wing bars. If you heard their song, you would know what they are…

A banded bird (Closed)

I found this bird on a beach in Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FL. today, August 3, 2013.  This bird caught my attention because it has three bands on its legs.  What is it? -SLB

Bird seen at Fort De Soto County Park, August 3, 2013

Another What Bird Is This?

This photo was taken by Pierre Cenerelli in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC.  What bird is this?

Taken at Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

An interesting bird

Every now and then, a bird appears in an area that captures the attention of birders.  This is a stock photo of one such bird.  This bird is considered “accidental” in this county, appearing spring and/or summer, if at all.    I have not had the pleasure of seeing it myself, but I have been reading of daily sightings around Gulf Pier at Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FL.  What bird is this?  -SLB

Seen July, 2013, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FL

Quiz – July Bird of the Month

What kind of bird is this?

Birding is quiet in this area this time of the year.  I doubt I could even try to stump anyone with the birds I see now, mostly those that are found in and around the Bay. Here is an example.  -SLB

Quiz – June Bird of the Month June 24, 2013 (Closed)

This bird was seen on Treasure Island Beach, Gulf of Mexico, central Florida on June 24, 2013.  It walked along the beach near Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls and Royal and Sandwich Terns. What is it?

The second photo is the mystery gull with a Ring-billed Gull and the last photo is the mystery gull with Laughing Gull and Ring-billed Gull.  Hopefully, these photos will provide some idea of size comparison.  -SLB 

Gull

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2013_06_24 Gulls DSCF19

Do you know this bird? It prefers woodlands of higher elevation. Most members here have probably never seen one of these because it primarily a west coast bird. It usually ventures no farther east than the mountains of Colorado, but it is known to breed in much of Canada.

Photo taken on 05/18/2013, near Los Angeles, California.

Quiz – Grassland Bird (Closed)

I photographed this inconsistent bird of New Jersey’s declining grasslands a few days ago. Without any help, does anyone know what this bird of the prairies is? With help can you ID this funky bird?

Quiz – May Bird of the Month

This is the “slow” time of the year in Pinellas County, Florida, as far as birding goes.  It seems that the spring migrants who were going north have finished passing through.  It was fun finding them and seeing them as some seem to come annually, others occasionally.  Here is one of the warblers I saw at the beginning of the month. 

Warbler

Try an identification with just the top photo.  Confirm with bottom photo.  -SLB

Same warbler as above

 

 

Swallow ID

This photo was taken on a river in central NJ.

There is a reason for the dreadful quality of this photo. I was not trying to photograph this bird. I was taking pictures of a Great Egret and this guy ended up in the corner of one of the frames.

My question is what species do you think this swallow is? I have my suspicions, but I’d really like some other opinions.

Thanks.