• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Recent content by Jim M.

  1. J

    SW Florida USA - Bittern or Heron?

    Really, you've taken a poll on this? :) Most of the field guides I just spot-checked don't use "heron" as a catch all phrase--no American, Australian, Asian, South American, or African guides. They all list herons, egrets, bitterns--or in the case of Sibley, use a generic "large wading birds."...
  2. J

    SW Florida USA - Bittern or Heron?

    Agree with Least Bittern. Don't agree that bitterns are herons--both are just common names applied to distinct species. P.S. Congrats on the lifer!
  3. J

    Petition to AOS Leadership on the Recent Decision to Change all Eponymous Bird Names

    Josh is a good egg, but his views have obviously been warped by living in euroland. ;) I was aware he's spent a lot of time in South America--but that's not really the "here" that's most relevant (it's Mexico and the U.S./Canada).
  4. J

    Petition to AOS Leadership on the Recent Decision to Change all Eponymous Bird Names

    What you say is not accurate. Mexicans refer to those from the U.S. and Canada as "norteamericanos." So it's not a perspective those north of the border are imposing on them. Your complaint is more an instance of people who don't live in the western hemisphere trying to tell people who live...
  5. J

    US--Tallahassee,FL-Jan-Unknown Feeder Warbler

    Thanks for letting me know that "the bird is what it is"; very informative. I also didn't know you were an expert on Tallahassee and bird abundance.
  6. J

    US--Tallahassee,FL-Jan-Unknown Feeder Warbler

    Have done some more research, and there are a few reports of Nashville's frequenting suet feeders. I also found a few photos of Nashvilles where the legs look thicker than the more typical pin-width legs you see on them. So I'm moving to the undecided camp. In any event, I don't think the...
  7. J

    US--Tallahassee,FL-Jan-Unknown Feeder Warbler

    Here's an eBird barchart showing the frequency of the two since 2010 in Leon Co., where Tallahassee is located.
  8. J

    US--Tallahassee,FL-Jan-Unknown Feeder Warbler

    Disagree, and structure always trumps colors in any event. Mistaking an Orange-crowned for the much rarer Nashville in winter is a common mistake on this side of the pond. And Orange-crowneds are more likely low, at feeders like this.
  9. J

    US--Tallahassee,FL-Jan-Unknown Feeder Warbler

    Legs are too thick and pale, and bill too robust and long for Nashville. Orange-crowned Warbler, which is quite variable, looks like a decent fit. If you scroll down this eBird list from Florida there are multiple photos of one that looks close (don't seem to be able to link directly to...
  10. J

    Woodpecker song treatment by eBird

    "Songbirds" are typically thought of as being those in the order Passeriformes. Woodpeckers of course are not in that order, and I never thought of them as having "songs". Looking at the descriptions in my Sibley guide, I don't see any species accounts that describe any woodpecker...
  11. J

    Need tiny hard-shelled bug id

    I assume the location is Massachusetts? Hard to be sure from the photo, but likely a Dermestid beetle (family Dermistidae), possibly genus Anthrenus or Attagenus. These are referred to as "carpet beetles" and commonly found inside houses; they don't bite and feed on detritus. Not a bedbug if...
  12. J

    Amazon Rainforest Peru Night Bird.

    But not all eyes reflect light. And this one appears to be swiveling its head independently of its body. Both of these are consistent with nightjar.
  13. J

    Amazon Rainforest Peru Night Bird.

    I think I see what you are looking at. Never seen a potoo sitting on the ground. More likely a nightjar; not sure what the options are in Iquitos.
  14. J

    Do you count heard only birds on your life list?

    This topic has taken over the 10,000 birds thread. I'm not necessarily looking to initiate further debate on the pros and cons of different listing practices – just curious to get a sense of what forum members as a whole are doing at present. This forum probably skews older and certainly more...
  15. J

    confused about tripod head types for birding scope

    Most of the heads available are unnecessarily heavy for birding purposes--they are designed for other uses. Unless you are digiscoping, I don't see why you would need a fluid head. If you can get something cheaper/lighter that suits your needs, I'd go for it instead. I use this, though it...
See more
Back
Top