Tuesday 27 August 2013

Re: [Maine-birds] Id help, please

I'll bet this would be an easier ID if the bird were not sitting on (Seaside?) Goldenrod. 

Looking at the face, you can make out a white outline around an otherwise dark mask with a combed back tuft still prominent against the nape - starting to look good for a Cedar Waxwing. The cool slate gray color on the wings and tail are probably the trick with this dorsal view that would make you think bluebird but the browner tones on the back still point towards our waxwing. Then the best feature from this angle is perfectly camouflaged against the goldenrod: yellow tips on the tail - definitely a Cedar Waxwing! It is a young bird though, the back looks a little mottled and the streaking on the flanks, plus no red tips on the secondaries, are all good characters of a young Cedar Waxwing.

I believe it was last Thursday's birdwalk at Gilsland when we saw our first juvenile waxwings (actually feeding in the goldenrod in the North Meadow). This species is a late summer nester to align with the availability of summer-riping fruit. Another sign that summer is wrapping up!

Good birding,


Doug Hitchcox
Hollis, ME
 
On Aug 27, 2013, at 9:40 AM, "Smith, Michael" <Michael.Smith@maine.gov> wrote:

Well personally I would name it "Fluffy".
:)

(as for species it's a young Eastern Bluebird)

Michael Smith MS GISP
State GIS Manager, Maine Office of GIS
Sent from my BlackBerry Z10
And no I was not driving
From: David Small
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 8:30 AM
To: Maine-Birds google list
Subject: [Maine-birds] Id help, please

I can't even get close to naming this guy. I got one quick shot at it while visiting Gilsland Farm yesterday. It's rather small maybe blue jay size.
Help!, please.
 
 
Thanks,
Dave

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