Any Birders Out There?
This morning I saw a bird that stumped me. Anybody able to identify it?
Back, wings, tail, head were black with maybe a hint of olive.
Belly was a striking, contrasting buff-khaki and there was clear delineation between back and belly
Very recognizable russet throat patch.
Wings were pointy and underside a lighter mix of black and buff coloring gave a frosty look.
Bill more refined than typical seed eaters. Sort of Flycatcher or maybe warbler.
Fast, aggressive flier.
Slightly smaller than a robin.
It was perched on the dog wire as I got my first cup of coffee going. It sat there for a good bit so I think my description is spot on. The separation between back-head color and belly was very defined and drew me to look. I am certain that I’ve never seen the bird previously.
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I took a cruise through my Peterson Field Guide to see what I could come up with. The russet throat patch has me stumped. What was it’s feeding habit? The only thing I could figure, given its size is an oriole or some kind of thrush, but can’t correlate your description. Have a camera handy in case it shows up again?
When it left the wire it dove low which put me into thinking wrong. It is a barn swallow but doesn’t have the blueish upper. They are trying to build a nest under the upstairs deck which is just out my door.
Makes complete sense with the coloration. They have such distinctive tail feathers that I thought you would have mentioned that aspect for sure. They’re a lot of fun when they have chicks in the nest. Prepare to duck.
Well, that also threw me. I’ve been able to watch them come and go — evidently with nest mud. The fork isn’t there that I can see. On the wire, it isn’t that far and still not seen.
Could be a cliff swallow sub-specie.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/id
The nest will tell as it is a gourd shape.
Gourd shaped and attached to the vertical wall? Cliff swallow. V-shaped tail?
Well, they aren’t around today. I think they may have found a better site. I got one picture but it is blurry. No split tail for sure. Not quite square like typical song birds but not the swallow’s either.
Best post here EVAH !
Oh and silly you……….. it’s a bird!