Bird ID? Can anyone ID this beautiful bird that has been hanging around my feeder lately? I've never seen such a bird before. Taken through my back door, had to shoot fast because when...

ncshutterbug

Can anyone ID this beautiful bird that has been hanging around my feeder lately? I've never seen such a bird before. Taken through my back door, had to shoot fast because when it's gone, it's gone.
Thanks

Dsquared Loc: Lubec, Maine

Rose breasted grosbeak. Hope you will hear his beautiful song!

Jayne Loc: Wisconsin

Rose-breasted Grosbeak I believe....

ncshutterbug

Thanks, guys! I haven't heard it sing, but will listen more carefully :) Just wish I could get one decent shot. I think I get nervous, afraid he will fly before I do.

Dsquared Loc: Lubec, Maine

ncshutterbug wrote:

Thanks, guys! I haven't heard it sing, but will listen more carefully :) Just wish I could get one decent shot. I think I get nervous, afraid he will fly before I do.

Well that shot was fine for an ID. The male is indeed a striking and uniquely marked bird.

ncshutterbug

Dsquared wrote:

Well that shot was fine for an ID. The male is indeed a striking and uniquely marked bird.

He certainly is. What does the female look like? Most of the birds are chasing each other around right now, but he seems more interested in stuffing his face :). He returns numerous times through out the day.

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

The female can't be far away. It has the exact same beak but the belly is heavily streaked. The rest of her looks like a house sparrow. You will notice that the males molt their plumage in the fall and look like the females but much less streaked at the belly. You should have a nice book like the old R.T. Peterson guide (1947), or the Harper and Row Field Guide to North American Wildlife or the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds.

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

ncshutterbug wrote:

Can anyone ID this beautiful bird that has been hanging around my feeder lately? I've never seen such a bird before. Taken through my back door, had to shoot fast because when it's gone, it's gone.
Thanks

I just went through the same dilemma recently, it the Rose Breasted Grosbeak. A beautiful bird that also stopped off at my feeders last week before moving on. Congratulations on a very nice capture. :-D :thumbup:

Frank W Loc: Adirondacks in NY

ncshutterbug wrote:

He certainly is. What does the female look like? Most of the birds are chasing each other around right now, but he seems more interested in stuffing his face :). He returns numerous times through out the day.

Here's a shot I got a few years back with my bridge camera, with both male & female

(Download)

ncshutterbug

Thanks to all for all the good info. Turns out the female has been stopping by, but I just didn't realize it. I thought "That is the biggest sparrow I have ever seen!" She didn't stay long when she was there. He did finally grace me with a few better shots as he would sit there for long periods.

BillH Loc: Lancaster County PA

ncshutterbug wrote:

Can anyone ID this beautiful bird that has been hanging around my feeder lately? I've never seen such a bird before. Taken through my back door, had to shoot fast because when it's gone, it's gone.
Thanks

If you have an i-phone check out the Merlin Bird ID app. It is free and easy to use. They are working on an Android version. You can check to see if it is out. All you do is answer a few easy questions and it will give you pictures of possible birds. You can even play their call or song if you want to know what to listen for!
Bill

ncshutterbug

BillH wrote:

If you have an i-phone check out the Merlin Bird ID app. It is free and easy to use. They are working on an Android version. You can check to see if it is out. All you do is answer a few easy questions and it will give you pictures of possible birds. You can even play their call or song if you want to know what to listen for!
Bill

Good one, Bill. Thanks! I don't have an I phone (I know, I'm the last hold out), but I'll bet there's an Android version, which I could use.

amabOkcaraB Loc: West Coast of USA

Dsquared wrote:

Rose breasted grosbeak. Hope you will hear his beautiful song!

I agree. Nice job.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

jwt wrote:

I just went through the same dilemma recently, it the Rose Breasted Grosbeak. A beautiful bird that also stopped off at my feeders last week before moving on. Congratulations on a very nice capture. :-D :thumbup:

Jim, the EXACT same thing happened to me last week; the Saturday before Easter I had one at my Cardinal feeder with the House Finches. By the time I got my camera pointed at the window it flew off and did not return!