Saturday 23 January 2021

[cobirds] Re: Identification for these adorable birds

Hi Brian!

The first photo looks to be a female American Goldfinch. Note that it's pale yellow-ish, has a small, dark "finch" bill, the clean, pale underparts, and the "tipped" tail with black and white. The second photo is a Northern Shrike. We get two shrike species in Colorado: Northern and Loggerhead Shrike. The one you photographed is a Northern Shrike. Note that the black line going through its eye gets very thin. Its sister shrike species would have a thicker "mask." Generally speaking, if you see a shrike in the winter, it's a Northern Shrike, and if you see a shrike in the summer, it's a Loggerhead Shrike. (During migratory seasons, you have to watch out for the explicit marks, because both species are present!)

Hope this helps you :)

The birds are happy, and so am I
~Caleb Alons, Larimer County

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