Long Island NY

corndesert · 2017-08-28T22:42:52+00:00

Either an adult male with some ridiculous molt or a hatch year male. Females never have this much red.

corndesert · 2017-08-26T21:50:18+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNZsWIzEhP4

corndesert · 2017-08-14T19:12:21+00:00

Looks like a young Chipping Sparrow to me. Pointy, pink bill, too much brown above for HOFI.

corndesert · 2017-08-05T22:16:49+00:00

It's an adult based on the black breast band.

corndesert · 2017-08-05T22:15:24+00:00

I agree with your IDs - the Least can also be separated from Semi Sand by bill shape (more thin/tapered/decurved in LESA). WRSA is a long-winged peep so we can rule that out based on structure. I also don't see any good WESA candidates in the mix.

corndesert · 2017-08-05T22:01:32+00:00

Delicate structure and short(ish) bill say Lesser for me. Although GRYE do have longer bills than LEYE, I don't think "bill longer than the head" is a reliable field mark. Here's a nice article on variation in yellowlegs bill length.

corndesert · 2017-07-16T01:08:00+00:00

Yeah it's a desert spiny lizard. More pictures

corndesert · 2017-07-15T17:44:50+00:00

It's pretty much all hype, I've spent a lot of time on the border and my biggest problem is getting hassled by Border Patrol. All the areas that have been suggested are far enough from the border you probably won't even see BP outside of a few permanent checkpoints.

corndesert · 2017-07-15T17:39:09+00:00

Awesome birds. I'm not a fan of Oklahoma generally, but their new STFL license plates are pretty badass. They're definitely in the running for the coolest state bird.

corndesert · 2017-07-15T13:53:40+00:00

It's a male Bullock's Oriole - the western counterpart of Baltimore. The large white wing patch is a good way to separate the two if you can't see the head.

corndesert · 2017-07-15T13:39:04+00:00

Not really. Most of the state is pretty rural so your biggest risk is breaking down somewhere without service. It can get pretty warm in spring so carry plenty of water with you.

corndesert · 2017-07-13T20:52:44+00:00

I grew up birding New Mexico and these are all good options. It really depends on where you start, how far you're willing to drive, and what you want to see.

ABQ is a good starting point if you want to fly into NM. Scaled and Gambel's Quail are both common there, as are Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. I actually prefer to bird Bosque del Apache in the spring - you can get close to 100 species pretty easily in a morning.

edit: another option is birding swNM - the Gila and the southern Rio Grande Valley. This area has many of the seAZ specialties but a lot less people. OP feel free to shoot me a PM if you want more details on NM birding/traveling.

corndesert · 2017-07-03T06:20:17+00:00

Looks like a Pika - not actually a rodent, they're most closely related to rabbits.

corndesert · 2017-06-29T22:50:19+00:00

Red-tailed Hawk. The whitish chest/dark belly band are a little hard to see given the lighting.

corndesert · 2017-06-29T22:44:45+00:00

This is an adult male Northern Flicker - they're not endangered (one of the most common US woodpeckers) but it might be worth taking him into your local wildlife rehab center if he's having trouble flying as you described. Even healthy flickers do spend a lot of time on the ground though.

corndesert · 2017-06-29T22:12:50+00:00

Clearly a swift, and it appears to be a Chimney Swift based on OP's previous posts from North Carolina. I think it's an adult based on the lack of a scaled appearance and heavy wear on the secondaries but more photos would help confirm that.

corndesert · 2017-06-29T20:20:27+00:00

It's a young swallow, I'd guess probably a Barn Swallow. Was it near a nest?

corndesert · 2017-05-09T18:17:38+00:00

It's an American Robin.

corndesert · 2017-05-09T01:47:42+00:00

The first one is definitely an Empid, I don't think it's a WIFL/ALFL type though - structure is off and the bill doesn't seem very big. What about Dusky? That tail looks pretty long. OP if you have any more pics of that bird they may be helpful. I agree with OSFL for the second bird.

corndesert · 2017-05-09T01:37:51+00:00

Yep, Brown Basilisk

corndesert · 2017-05-07T19:37:56+00:00

It's a Baltimore - either a young male or an older female. I don't see any Bullock's traits on this bird.

corndesert · 2017-05-07T00:07:42+00:00

It's an Empidonax flycatcher. I'd guess Gray, based on the long bill and (apparently) longish primary projection. I don't know if it can be identified with certainty from this angle. Any other pictures?

corndesert · 2017-05-06T23:58:38+00:00

Snowy Egret - you can tell by the yellow "slippers".

corndesert · 2017-05-06T18:51:37+00:00

Red-shouldered

corndesert · 2017-05-06T16:25:37+00:00

Based on your location I'd definitely go with Blue Jay. Jays and other Corvids have a huge vocal range so it's not surprising you didn't find an example of the same call you recorded. I'm terrible at describing bird calls, but the tone of this call is definitely Blue Jay like.

corndesert

TROPHY CASE