Thursday, 12 August 2010

California Trip Birds - Poor and record shots - help with ID required

Ok, here a few shots that I need some help with. Some are ok, some are distant and some are blurry. Please let me have your suggestions via the comments or at martin.blow@rocketmail.com. Thanks.

Chipping Sparrow?

Hairy?
Help? Townsend Warbler?

Purple Finch?

Sage Sparrow?

Juv - White Crowned Sparrow?

As above?

Taken by Sophie. Savanagh Sparrow?


Orange Crowned Warbler?

Northern Mockingbird - it doesn't look quite right to me?

Belted Kingfisher?
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3 comments:

  1. Ryan O'Donnell12 August 2010 at 10:34

    Here's my thoughts:
    1. I can't be sure from this shot, but I think Chipping Sparrow is unlikely. I'd be more likely to think Pine Siskin, House Finch, or Purple Finch. Gives me a finch gestalt, anyways.
    2. Williamson's Sapsucker, male.
    3. (Audubon's) Yellow-rumped Warbler. A bright adult male like this one: http://www.pajaritoeec.org/resources/birds/Vis/warbler_yellowrumped.jpg
    4. Tough to say, and I can't get a larger version to open up when I click on it. My gut says you're right with Purple Finch, but I can't eliminate House Finch.
    5. (Thick-billed) Fox Sparrow. See http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0607+1291 for example. This subspecies is often talked about as a candidate for future splitting from other Fox Sparrow subspecies.
    6. Correct, juvie White-crowned Sparrow.
    7. Song Sparrow.
    8. Another Thick-billed Fox Sparrow.
    9. MacGillivray's Warbler. Compare to http://theroguebirder.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/mgwa.jpg
    10. Brewer's Blackbird. Young male, I think?
    11. Seems to me to be shaped like a gull, and I'd lean toward immature California, but I'm far from certain.

    Thanks for the challenge!

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  2. Martin Blow (martin.blow@rocketmail.com)13 August 2010 at 00:42

    Cheers Ryan. I'll get the Sibley out and see where I was going wrong. For 11. I didn't even consider a gull due to colouring. My daughter Sophie took that pic. and she said she couldn't remember what the bird looked like. All the birding best.

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  3. Sean Fitzgerald16 August 2010 at 15:38

    I would agree with all of Ryan's comments with the exception of the two finches (Photos 1 and 4). The top bird especially has a very pointed beak, which would have me leaning toward Cassin's Finch. The second finch photo is definitely a finch, but I can't enlarge that shot so it's a tough call (I'm still leaning toward Cassin's on that bird as well though).

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