Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Mystery Bird at Herrick's Cove, VT

This morning I birded Herricks Cove looking for warblers. I came across this bird and am not sure what to make of it. It's a large crop - so the photos are a bit fuzzy.






At first I thought it was a molting Scarlet Tanager but the cream-colored edging of the tertials, or the black beak,  do not fit any picture or description that I could find. I'd love to hear your comments.

Thanks for stopping by.

10 comments:

  1. I'm thinking Orchard Oriole.

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  2. Two Scarlet Tanagers were in the same vicinity, both with female or basic plumage with pale peaks. I am posting these photos for comparison.

    http://www.onejackdaw.com/Scarlet_Tanager_E_2855.jpg

    http://www.onejackdaw.com/Scarlet_Tanager_E_2858.jpg

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  3. the rumps on your mystery birds are much more orange. but i wonder if it's just a variation, maybe they ate a lot of dark berries??? otherwise they look like scarlet tanagers.

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  4. Not an Oriole!

    Bill is way too heavy, and shows a slight hook.

    I think it is a Scarlet Tanager - probably a first fall male, judging by the light tertial edges.

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  5. I am wondering whether the dark beak and the prominent white on the tertials are caused by a mutation in a color gene.

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  6. Has anyone suggested maybe a Bullock's and/or Bullock's x Baltimore?

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  7. Definitely a tanager. Aside from the bill, the head is too huge for an oriole. Tanager doesn't have to show a giant head, but it can:

    http://www.briansmallphoto.com/photo/scta2.jpg

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  8. Even better:
    http://thejeffway.com/zzScarletTanager5D.jpg

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  9. Thank you all for your comments. Robin, the bill of an oriole is much sharper, more pointed. The consensus seems to be that this is indeed Scarlet Tanager, most likely a particularly colorful first fall male. Also many STs do have black beaks. I greatly appreciate everyone's input, including those who sent me emails. It's been fun!

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  10. Photography has made such a difference in this type of ID. At one time we probably would have had to just let it go without an idea.

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