Does anyone know what kind of bird this is?

Johnw7127 · Mar 5, 2007

Hi all,

Any bird experts out there? I'd love to know the name of this bird I took a shot of.

I posted about this photo in my blog (www.johnwphotography.blogspot.com) and I realized I had no clue about what kind of bird it was. It was quite a singer (not a chirper) if that helps.

Thanks!

doenoe · Mar 6, 2007

the pic is a bit small, but if i had to take a guess im going with the Starling.

LaFoto · Mar 6, 2007

I miss the dots on the stomach that would be there in a starling, plus starlings have blue-black shimmering feathers.
It looks like a blackbird to me. They are QUITE the singers!!!

Hertz van Rental · Mar 6, 2007

It could be a juvenile starling... but I don't think so. Nor do I think it a blackbird. Male blackbirds are... black. Females and juveniles have speckled stomachs.
As you are in the US my European knowledge is lacking. I can only suggest you try here:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/

Torus34 · Mar 7, 2007

The length of bill suggests a starling.

Incidentally, starlings are not native to the US. Years ago, someone wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare to the New World. Among the species that he imported and freed were starlings. I expect several to visit the suet cakes in my back yard this morning.

We have a long-standing contract with the birds here, spanning generations. In return for food during the winter, they sing for us in the spring.

'A song for a life. A life for a song. Lifelong life song.'

Johnw7127 · Mar 10, 2007

Hi all! Thanks so much for helping me out! What I gather is that it could be a blackbird, but is more likely a juvenile Starling? Is that correct? Are Starlings rare in the US?

Here's a larger version, hope it helps.

Thanks a lot!

abraxas · Mar 10, 2007

The_Traveler · Mar 11, 2007

why not post this on a site devoted to bird watching?

lostprophet · Mar 11, 2007

Well I'm glad the photo was posted here. as it show a bird in its natural habitat and that's one thing I'm not that very good at.

Sorry but I can't help with the ID as i'm no expert, but is that a flash of red on its tail?

You might get an answer if a kind MOD could move this to the nature gallery

LaFoto · Mar 11, 2007

The "kind MOD" did move this to the Landscape and Nature Gallery just now :biggrin:

and hope along with JohnW that there will be members coming to this forum who know their birds. For although my maiden name was "Vogel" (look it up if you don't know what it translates into

), I apparently do NOT know what this particular bird is...

Johnw7127 · Mar 11, 2007

My apologies. I'm new to the forum, and don't know my way around very well yet. I will spend more time finding a proper subject next time.

lostprophet · Mar 11, 2007

Johnw7127 said:
My apologies. I'm new to the forum, and don't know my way around very well yet. I will spend more time finding a proper subject next time.

no need to apologise, and there's nothing wrong with the subject.

perylousdemon · Mar 11, 2007

A larger version would definitely help, but it does resemble an immature European starling. http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/starling-juv-lg2.jpg

digital flower · Mar 11, 2007

Id'ing a bird isn't easy sometimes. There are a few things that would help; the location (narrows down the range), size and time of the year. All that said I think it is a Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), not sure though. They do have chestnut coloring under the tail.

Johnw7127 · Mar 11, 2007

perylousdemon said:
A larger version would definitely help, but it does resemble an immature European starling. http://www.backyardbirdcam.com/gallery/starling-juv-lg2.jpg

^Please note that I posted a larger version, it's post number 6.

I took the photo at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts, USA. It was quite warm, I believe it could've been June.

Thanks a lot!