Friday, May 28, 2021

Whoa! New visitor!

This morning we had a new visitor at our bird feeder. At first I thought it was a Baltimore oriole.

Honestly, doesn't it look like one?

But it didn't seem likely since their range is much further east.

Readers kindly pointed out this is NOT a Baltimore oriole, but a black-headed grosbeak. The beak is a dead giveaway.

These readers are right, and I thank them for the correction. I've never seen one of these critters before. What a handsome bird. I hope he returns to the feeder.

14 comments:

  1. They occasionally show up as far east as SW Saskatchewan in the Great White North...maybe try attracting him with a piece of an orange.

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  2. Sadly, that's a common male black-headed grosbeak. The blunt beak is the giveaway. Oriole's have a long slender beak. Still a handsome fellow!

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  3. Happy Friday! I'm no expert, but the beak looks a lot like a black headed grosbeak. We have them here in Central Oregon

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  4. Score! You've just seen one of your LBJ's (little brown jobs) cousins. Just flew in from down where colors run rampant, down there in "Flamenco" land.. Bwaaahaaaa

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  5. He is still beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

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  6. Would you please share the title and author of your bird identification book? Thank you!

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    1. Most of the time I use my well-thumbed copy of "A Field Guide to Western Birds" by Roger Tory Peterson (part of "The Peterson Field Guide Series"). I also have a copy of "A Guide to Field Identification - Birds of North America" by Golden which I use as a back-up reference. A well-stocked used bookstore often has numerous helpful field guides for inexpensive prices.

      - Patrice

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    2. I have to rubberband my Golden Guide together so the pages stay in. A few years ago I saw and added the Stokes field guide to birds of N America. It is not a 'take with you' like Golden - it is larger, but has photos (often many) per species. Eastern/Western - lt/dk phases,females, immature.. it has become my 'go to for LBJs. It also has a CD with songs.

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  7. I love it when "new" birds show up at our feeders!

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  8. We have one of those at our feeder! I’m so excited to see something new and different!

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