Passerine in Central Park, New York City (1 Viewer)

[Pinewood]

Hello,

I spotted a bird, today, which could not identify. It was had 2 bars on a brown and black wing, black eyes, light brown chest with light streaking, and a black tail. I would size it, as somewhat smaller than a red winged blackbird.

Can anyone help me on this bird?

Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood :hi:

 

[Peter C.]

Bill shape, Arthur? Did you get any sense of whether it was long or short, heavy or slight?

 

[Nutcracker]

Brown-headed Cowbird, juvenile moulting to adult?

 

[Tiraya]

Seems to be in the blackbird ballpark. Try looking at brown-headed cowbird, rusty blackbird and brewer's blackbird (and female common grackle for completion sake).

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

Thanks Nutcracker, Silverwolf and Peter, for the suggestions but none click.

Additional memories: no eye ring, no eye stipe and a slender bill.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:

 

[Tiraya]

Only other option would be a younger starling.

 

[Pinewood]

Only other option would be a younger starling.

Hello Silverwolf,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think not. I have been seeing plenty of juvenile starlings.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:

 

[Peter C.]

Seems to be in the blackbird ballpark. Try looking at brown-headed cowbird, rusty blackbird and brewer's blackbird (and female common grackle for completion sake).

My thought was (also) juvenile Starling moulting into "first basic" plumage - might explain the combination of brown and black, and the slender bill. Don't think of them as having wing bars, though.

 

[Pinewood]

My thought was (also) juvenile Starling moulting into "first basic" plumage - might explain the combination of brown and black, and the slender bill. Don't think of them as having wing bars, though.

Hello Peter,

Thanks for your input. Those wing bars were my first note in identification.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:

 

[Tiraya]

Well the only other brown birds with wing bars really are indigo and lazuli bunting, and some of the warblers (cape may etc.).

 

[Pinewood]

Well the only other brown birds with wing bars really are indigo and lazuli bunting, and some of the warblers (cape may etc.).

Hello Silverwolf,

We are getting closer. Let's forget the beak but we still have the lack of eye ring, of which I am fairly positive and the dark tail. Even a female blue grosbeak has an eye ring.

We may just have to put this down, as unidentified.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:

 

[Tiraya]

What sort of brown would you say it was from this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Shades_of_brown

 

[Pinewood]

What sort of brown would you say it was from this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Shades_of_brown

Hello Silverwolf,

You are kind to devote so much attention to this id.

I would say camel on the chest; sepia on the back; taupe on the wings, except for the wing bars; but the tail was black. Of course, this is all from unreliable memory.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:

 

[Tiraya]

Well there aren't really any options left so I don't think I can help any more.

Ignoring the orange colour on this bird, did it look like this? http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/says_phoebe_loismanowitz3.jpg

...It's not really even found in the eastern states at all but that's about it. It has to be something else mentioned previously in the thread...

 

[Pinewood]

Well there aren't really any options left so I don't think I can help any more.

Ignoring the orange colour on this bird, did it look like this? http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/says_phoebe_loismanowitz3.jpg

...It's not really even found in the eastern states at all but that's about it. It has to be something else mentioned previously in the thread...

Hello Silverwolf,

Not a Say's phoebe, but an Eastern Wood Pewee is pretty close. I would not have seen the orange mandible from its position.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur