Re: [cobirds] Bird ID help request

It is without a doubt a Lesser Goldfinch.  The very pointed finch bill is quite unlike the more swollen, paler, larger bill of WETA.  I guess I could understand some confusion over a single photo by some people, but these birds are nothing alike in field observation, as far as size, behavior, calls, etc. Also look for the whitish flash at the base of the primaries, visible from above and below, on Lesser Goldfinch, diminished in fem/imm compared to males, but still apparent when they fly.  It's always good to accompany a photo with notes taken in the field on the bird's behavior, vocalizations, size compared to any nearby birds (if there are any), and any other impressions you get in the field (aka jizz, or giss (general impression of size and shape)).  LEGO has pretty distinctive calls and is fairly vocal, especially when taking flight.    Most American Goldfinches, and male Lesser, typically show white patches on the underside of the tail, like in the view here, but female Lesser lacks the pale areas and show all-dark tail like this bird. (western tanager also has all-dark tail but this is not any tanager so it's irrelevant).  Also, I do not see any tooth on the upper mandible on this bird, but I do see what looks like a bit of food stuck to the bill there, which would disappear as soon as this finch wipes her bill on a nearby twig.

EBird/Macaulay Library online has countless great photos of all these ages/sexes of Lesser Goldfinch, and Western Tanager, online, to compare with Bill's photos.

Good birding,

Derek Hill

On Monday, August 28, 2023 at 11:08:28 PM UTC-4 Bill Kosar wrote:

I'd like to hear other comments on Mary Kay's observations. I think this bird is too small to be a western tanager, it is only about 5.5 inches long. It's bill is actually relatively dark but appears light due to the bright sun on it. I stared at the pics for a while and still think it is a lesser goldfinch based on its bill shape and the location of its right eye relative to the bill. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of its back.

tx

Bill

El Paso county

On Monday, August 28, 2023 at 6:45:39 PM UTC-6 Mary Kay Waddington wrote:

I'll throw in my 2 cents here.  A lesser Goldfinch usually has a dark bill and it's shorter than this.  The bill is usually the key to most families.  This bill is not long enough for an Orchard Oriole, and an Oriole bill has a really slight downward curve.  A Tanager has a really slight "tooth" on the bill.  If you look at this bill closely, the upper mandible has that tiny little "tooth" in the middle of it.  The color, the shape, the length, and the little tooth make me think this is a female Western Tanager.

Mary Kay Waddington

On Sat, Aug 26, 2023 at 11:45 AM Bill Kosar <bill_...@msn.com> wrote:

There may have been a rush to judgement here. There were two late votes for lesser goldfinch for bird #1 and they may be correct. The bill seems too short for an oriole and the bird is only about 5.5 inches long based on a crude measurement of the feeder.

This picture shows a closeup of the bill

And this picture shows the wing bars

So more inputs are welcome!

Bill

El Paso county

On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 8:29:59 AM UTC-6 Bill Kosar wrote:

Thanks for all of the replies on my bird ID question. The results were:

Bird #1   5 people thought it was an orchard oriole, 2 a goldfinch and 1 a female western tanager. Another picture that I did not post shows the wing stripes of the oriole so I think this ID is correct.

Bird #2   Everyone agreed it is a pine siskin

Bird #3   Everyone (except me initially!) agreed it was a rufous hummingbird, probably juvenile. After a little more research I also agree with this ID

Thanks for all of the responses!

Bill

El Paso county

On Friday, August 25, 2023 at 4:25:03 PM UTC-6 TLM wrote:

For me:

#1 - Female Western Tanager

#2 - Yes on the Siskin

#3 - Juvenile Rufous

Best Regards,

Travis McComas

On Fri, Aug 25, 2023 at 10:42 AM Bill Kosar <bill_...@msn.com> wrote:

  I saw three birds in my backyard that I am not confident of my IDs on and would appreciate a little help on.

#1  I think this is a female orchard oriole:

#2 I think this is a pine siskin due to the small amount of yellow in the wing bar. These are usually more of a winter bird for me.         

ad #3 I think this is a juvenile broad-tailed hummingbird

Thanks

Bill Kosar

bill_...@msn.com

El Paso county

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Best Regards,

Travis McComas

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