unknown bird: We have had this bird visit this year and have not been able to determine what it is. It is about the size of a cow bird but the color seems wrong. Color is more like a...

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

We have had this bird visit this year and have not been able to determine what it is. It is about the size of a cow bird but the color seems wrong. Color is more like a chipping sparrow but is way too large. These are showing up in flocks of twenty or thirty. I am sure one of the bird lovers on UHH will know exactly what it is. This is not the greatest photo but hopefully it will be good enough for some one to name it. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

(Download)

Buelo Loc: PORTLAND, OR

How about an American Pipit?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

MCHUGH wrote:

We have had this bird visit this year and have not been able to determine what it is. It is about the size of a cow bird but the color seems wrong. Color is more like a chipping sparrow but is way too large. These are showing up in flocks of twenty or thirty. I am sure one of the bird lovers on UHH will know exactly what it is. This is not the greatest photo but hopefully it will be good enough for some one to name it. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Size? Is it on a 4x4 or 3x3 piece of wood?

Texas is tough too, you have a mix of both Eastern and Western US birds. There is actually a separate Peterson's Guide Guide To The Birds Of Texas. I have one somewhere.

Bill_de Loc: US

Possibly a song sparrow?

http://www.audubon.org/bird-family/new-world-sparrows

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MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

lamiaceae wrote:

Size? Is it on a 4x4 or 3x3 piece of wood?

Texas is tough too, you have a mix of both Eastern and Western US birds. There is actually a separate Peterson's Guide Guide To The Birds Of Texas. I have one somewhere.

The wood is a piece of 4X4.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

I think it is too big to be a sparrow. The wood it is sitting on is 4"x4" which give you a size perspective.

Bill_de Loc: US

Song Sparrows are 5 - 7 inches according to Audubon.

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Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Hi, McHugh

I’m guessing female red-winged blackbird.

Dave

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

Bill_de wrote:

Song Sparrows are 5 - 7 inches according to Audubon.

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I agree with you. Song Sparrow according to Wikipedia photos.
Like this one

aschweik Loc: NE Ohio

I'm going to agree with Dave...female red-winged blackbird. Just a guess.

jwm1944 Loc: Maryland

It IS a female red winged blackbird!

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

Thanks for the suggestion. Did not know they were that big. I don't think it is on though but is really very very like it. I am leaning towards a female red wing black bird another UHH er suggested.

jwm1944 Loc: Maryland

I'VE BEEN A BIRDER FOR OVER 50 YEARS..:)

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

pmorin wrote:

I agree with you. Song Sparrow according to Wikipedia photos.
Like this one

This is not the same bird as the OP has shown. On the OP's bird notice the white strip across the eye? This bird has nothing like that. So far it appears the OP's bird may be a hybrid as it does not fit the sparrows shown in Nat Geo's Birds of N. A.

titoeric

Could be a male redwing blackbird in its first summer.