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Sunday, March 14, 2010

Strange Little Bird

I have a bit of a mystery for you today. I saw this little bird high up in the trees at the nature park, but I just don't know what it is. I originally assumed it was another downy woodpecker, since there are so many of them out there this time of year. But this bird's markings don't match one of those at all.

This little bird waas moving around quickly, so it was very difficult for me to keep up with it. I only got these few shots, and these aren't as clear as I'd like. In the first one at the top, it appears that this little guy has a bit of a crest, sort of like a blue jay or a cardinal, but that crest is the only thing that matches those birds. I'm sure it's not one of them.

Here's another picture of this little bird. This time he's looking up to the sky. You can see the light gray color a little better here, but he's still hard to see. Those long tail feathers might be a good indication of what he is for an experienced birder. Unfortunately, I only really know general information because I have to study other types of animals as well.

With the crest, the general color, and the behavior of crawling at odd angles on the tree, I'm beginning to think it might be a tufted titmouse. The tail seems to look similar too, but the bird in my pictures just doesn't look quite round enough. I'm still not sure!

I remember following this bird as it flew to another tree. I took the opportunity to get another picture before it was off again, and this time forever. Now we have a good look at the top of its head! So we now know that he is a light gray bird with black on the top of his head. I think the clues are getting better, don't you?

I guess this rules out the titmouse, if it is indeed the same bird as in the first two pictures. I can't be sure at all since it was very high up in the trees. The black on the head of this last bird indicates that it might be a nuthatch. The problem is that the pattern of the black seems odd to me, and the rest of the body seems to match the color of the first bird still. I'm so confused!

My confusion is not a bad thing though. It means I'm learning. I'm sure I'll see birds like these again. Maybe I'll get a better look when I get another chance. After that, I might be able to identify these birds easily. Of course, any help here is still appreciated. This seemingly futile search has actually been a very fun adventure.

19 comments:

  1. Interesting mystery Ratty, maybe there are two different birds. The first photo looks somewhat like a tufted titmouse. But then I'm not that good with bird id's either.

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  2. It's a beautiful bird! The marking is unusual but you did a great job taking its pictures though.

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  3. From the first pic. I would have gone with some sort of woodpecker bird but I'm not so sure after seeing the last pic....oh who am i kidding...I haven't got a clue but I sure hope you find out!!

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  4. Well I would say that you are closer to knowing what type of bird it is than I am. I'm not too good with that type of thing. I'm sure you'll have it figured out though and look forward to hearing what it is.

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  5. You are an adventure who keep learning. You will learn the most when the birds start talking.

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  6. Are you sure they are the same bird? The second one really looks like the white-breasted nuthatch, but the first one can't be with that solid gray belly. And the nuthatch has no crest. The first one could be a nuthatch. That's what I though immediately when you said gray with a crest.

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  7. Possibly two different birds. First one looks like tufted titmouse. Second is not clear enough to ID. Man you are getting pretty good with your birds.

    Bill

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  8. I don't know what kind of bird that is. I was going to say a blue jay but I think that is wrong. Hope you find out. It would be interesting to know. Hope you have a wonderful day.

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  9. The shape of his head says tufted titmouse to me, but possibly a cedar waxwing. Was there any other color??? Cedar waxwings have red on the tips of their flight wings.

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  10. Ratty, it certainly does resemble a titmouse but I really don't know. I like the photos though. I need your expertise on my post for tomorrow - Monday

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  11. I am only good at identifying the blatant birds, like the males of the species of robins, cardinals, blue jays, etc. No outdoor type here!!! You and Shark are giving me more of an education, Ratty, than I've ever had...though, hanging about the Chattahoochee River growing up, I sure learned to identify water moccasins!

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  12. To me, it really looks like a Canada Jay.

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  13. Could it be an Eastern Phoebe?

    http://www.birdperch.com/galldetq.asp?sp=01167005

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  14. Thanks everybody for all of your help so far. I checked out all of your suggestions of what this bird might be, but I think it's still a mystery. The closest I've seen is the Canada Jay(Gray Jay). The only problem is that the gray jay doesn't ever come this far south. Other birds that some of you suggested are also either not here or out of season. If this is indeed a gray jay, it is very far from home. I'll keep investigating.

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  15. Looks like a tufted titmouse to me! The last photo does almost look like another bird, and the titmice and nuthatches are about the same size and often hang out together here. So that's a possibility.

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  16. I am also learning a lot of things from you Ratty. Thanks for sharing :)

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  17. I can't even begin to guess what kind of bird it is - all I know is it doesn't look like any of the ones that fly by my window.

    BTW, I am totally impressed that you learned a Cat Phrase well enough to call kittens! Most humans are not that good.

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  18. The first two do look like a titmouse. They are about finch size. While it looks dark for a titmouse, shooting against the sky like that may have caused it to appear darker than it really is. The third certainly looks like a nuthatch to me.

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  19. Well, I misspoke at the end. First titmouse, second white-breasted nuthatch. No gray jays here, but it is migration season. However... they are large birds- the size of a blue jay. I'm pretty sure that is not what you have. I've seen them in the UP and Minnesota.

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