Jun 8, 2013

Bird and Tree Identification: A Little Help, Please?


Can anyone help with some bird identification (in a less than perfect photo)? At first I thought this was an Eastern Phoebe, but upon looking at and listening to similar birds (at Cornell Lab of Ornithology), others seemed at least as likely.  (My photos:  Stage Nature Center, Troy, Michigan). 

   


Eastern Wood-Pewee

Great Crested Flycatcher   (medium size, suburban and deciduous treetop hunter)


I’d love to say I “captured” a Great Crested Flycatcher--I hear Great White Shark there. Or Lavender Grizzly. But I’m not sure my guy’s belly is that colorful. So I’m guessing he's an Eastern Wood-Pewee, which is a pretty cool name as well--less dignified, yet better than an eastern pee pee. (Pee Wee Reese?  Pee Wee Herman?).

The Peewee’s song is the best fit, and my guy’s belly seems a bit more colorful than the Eastern Phoebe, though my photos don’t show it well.

 

Regarding metaphor: At first, I was also considering the Eastern Kingbird, but one site says that his belly is so white, and in such contrast to his dark grey back, that he looks as if he's wearing a charcoal business suit and white shirt. My guy was somewhat brownish, maybe with a touch of olive, and some faded color on the underside. Also, the Kingbird is larger). 

While we're at it, does anyone know what tree that is in the first photo, the one with the very, very pale green leaves?  Here it is again, against a darker green. 


I appreciate any help.


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I wish I could help. What a proud plumb little fella.

Rune Eide said...

It may look a bit silly to post an answer to say "I'm sorry, but I can't help you", but at least I can thank you for the nice comment!

Stickup Artist said...

Looks like a mockingbird to me. I only say that because my brother has a bird living in his backyard which my mom thought was a mockingbird. I took a picture of it and we compared it online and that's what it was. This little fellow looks similar...

Brenda's Arizona said...

Wow, I was all over the great crested flycatcher idea. Right head, right beak. Right side feathers. We are too far west for the eastern wood pewee (sounds like the paint color that AH is choosing!).
The phoebe doesn't seem to have the right head shape/cone? If phoebe, I"d lead toward the Say's Phoebe. hmmm.

I usually send photos like this to one of our local Wild Birds Unlimited people and they always come back with well researched/right answers. I can recommend them!

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Sorry Banjo - I'm of no help here but I do like that web site. Thanks for the introduction

Brenda's Arizona said...

Banjo, coincidentally, there is a pewee post here:
http://richard-atthewater.blogspot.com/2013/06/eastern-wood-pewee.html

Banjo52 said...

Brenda, thanks a million. I'm pretty sure Richard at the Water has my guy--and some fine other photos!

Stickup, I see your thinking, and I should have said more about size. The mockingbird could eat this guy for an appetizer (and the m. is grayer).

Others, thanks for the visit.

Ken Mac said...

A peaceful easy feeling...

Banjo52 said...

Ken, yep. That kind of day.

Brenda, P.S., I've double-checked and, as I thought, the Say's Phoebe is a western bird. That's your next assignment!

Brenda's Arizona said...

Oh dear, a Say's Phoebe....
Bird book and binoculars in hand, water pak on my back. Off to look!

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