Bird Identification: Help needed

Forum: Bird Identification Replies: 15, Views: 183 Print -

Author Content Methodical Clinton, MD (Zone 7a) November 07, 2009 09:30 PM Post #7251709 I believe this is th Lesser Goldfinch. Am I correct? Thanks Al Click the image for an enlarged view. Burd_Fotos Sandusky, OH November 07, 2009 10:07 PM Post #7251831 If you took the picture from your home location, it would be an American Goldfinch, range shows a Lesser would be from mid TX to west coast. Methodical Clinton, MD (Zone 7a) November 07, 2009 10:17 PM Post #7251851 This photo was taken in Tucson Az. Thanks Burd Burd_Fotos Sandusky, OH November 07, 2009 10:40 PM Post #7251916 Could be a younger male Lesser Goldfinch not for sure. Resin Northumberland United Kingdom (Zone 9a) November 08, 2009 08:04 AM Post #7252535 Western Tanager? Fits on plumage, but if your guess was Lesser Goldfinch, am I mis-judging the size badly? Not any sort of goldfinch, they don't show that combination of yellow and black. If definitely too small for Western Tanager, then maybe some sort of escaped cagebird, perhaps a canary of some sort. Resin pollengarden Pueblo, CO (Zone 5b) November 08, 2009 11:48 AM Post #7252924 My guess would be male American Goldfinch, head showing winter phase & breast skipping ahead to summer. It would help if we could see the side, it looks like we can see the beginnings of the wing bars that show in both summer and winter. American Goldfinches are fairly common here spring and fall, showing odd cobinations of Summer/Winter colors. The one time I saw Lesser Goldfinches, they were noticably smaller and darker than the American. An escaped hybred finch/canary is a possibility. My sister had one that looked a lot like your picture except he had a rust colored top-knot/toupee. TheHackster Columbus (Ga) United States November 08, 2009 11:25 PM Post #7254848 Sure wish I could see more of it from the side. It sure reminds me on my Goldfinches, though. But my current Goldfinches are not as brightly yellow as they were in the summer months Hack This message was edited Nov 8, 2009 10:27 PM reddirtretiree Norman, OK November 09, 2009 08:54 AM Post #7255443 I've never seen a Goldfinch that didn't have white wing-bars. Also feet and legs are darker and thinner than a Goldfinch's. Don't know what this bird is, but I don't think it's a either species of Goldfinch. Methodical Clinton, MD (Zone 7a) November 09, 2009 11:28 AM Post #7255892 I think I have a side picture of it...I will have to post it when I get home. Thanks all for the input aythya_americana Perrysburg, OH December 01, 2009 04:00 PM Post #7325688 Approximately what size is it compared to confidently identified birds? That might help. Methodical Clinton, MD (Zone 7a) December 02, 2009 10:26 AM Post #7327949 I don't have a profile view of this bird. Since I took it in Tucson Az and I will assume it's a lesser goldfinch. Size of the bird...I have no idea. OldNed Merritt Island, FL (Zone 10a) December 02, 2009 05:55 PM Post #7329429 Ditto to Resin...Western Tanager Burd_Fotos Sandusky, OH December 03, 2009 12:53 AM Post #7330591 I would have to agree to Western Tanager also, my field guide does not have a picture of a young male but this bird matches up with a male WT (less the red) on the face, which is probably due to his young age, but I have no info. also that the colors may come on during breeding season. But still would say WT. slobird San Luis Obispo, CA December 03, 2009 12:11 PM Post #7331480 I agree on the Western Tanager ID. Looks like a first year male. The older they get, the more orange-red their head becomes. Methodical Clinton, MD (Zone 7a) December 04, 2009 06:57 AM Post #7333999 OK now I can see what you guys are saying; I see the orange coming in on the top of the head. I will go with Western Tanager...Thanks pollengarden Pueblo, CO (Zone 5b) December 05, 2009 10:21 AM Post #7337590 I think the beak looks a little too short (more like a seed-eater thean an insect-eater) but that could be the camera angle; and I think it looks a little too small, but there isn't really a good way to judge size. So I guess it could be a winter or immature male Western Tanager. I admit the legs look more like a Tanager than a Goldfinch.

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