Bird with red stripe on head (1 Viewer)

[AUDITman]

Hello,

Last week I saw a few birds roaming around in marsh weeds in northern New Jersey. They looked like brown sparrows. Closer looking I saw they had a red stripe on top of their heads. I first thought they were red crowned kinglets, which have red crowns. But these did not have crowns. Just a red stripe on top of their heads.

They were also not chipping sparrows, which are smaller, lighter grey and with a copper stripe on their heads.

Also, in the group of birds was the same bird, but with a white stripe on their heads. Must have been the females.


They were there for about two days and then no more. They must have been migrating. What kind of birds are these?

 

[delia todd]

Hi AUDITman and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I've moved your post to the ID forum as they're better placed to be able to help you. I'm sure someone will be along soon.

I also subscribed you to the thread so you'll get notified when someone replies and you'll be able to find it easily.

 

[nartreb]

Hi Auditman,

The "crown" on a ruby-crowned kinglet _is_ a red stripe on top of the head. Most of the time, it's barely even visible. Maybe you've seen photos where the bird is raising those feathers, in which case you see a bright red mitre-shaped crest, like a cardinal's.

Here's a photo with the "crown" feathers in a more normal position:
http://langelliott.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ruby-crowned-Kinglet_T0B97006_EDIT.jpg

If the stripe was bright red (not dull brick like a chipping sparrow) I think your choices are ruby-crowned kinglet or a woodpecker. Both can be found in marsh reeds at this time of year, but woodpeckers aren't very sparrow-like. The smallest (and most likely to be found in reeds) is Downy Woodpecker, with a black-and-white body and very strong facial pattern, so it's not likely to remind you of a "brown sparrow". A northern flicker is even bigger and has a number of un-sparrowlike features.

So if it's small and acting sparrowlike, I can't think of anything other than ruby-crowned kinglet that fits the description.

 

[pianoman]

Kinglets are very small though, and if it was bigger than a Chipping Sparrow, that seems too big

 

[pianoman]

Perhaps a House Finch, where for some reason the red on the other parts of the body was not very strong or wasn't clear

 

[nartreb]

Oh, I reversed the size comparison. Yeah, that and the white-striped female would make a kinglet unlikely.

We should definitely consider finches (house/purple) and maybe redpolls too, or a mixed flock. The putative females might also be a completely different species. Female purple finches generally have a stronger white eyebrow than house finches, so they're a possible fit for the white-striped females, but so are several other birds starting with female house sparrows.

Not sure if the marshy environment is a good fit for redpolls, especially if they're hanging out for a few days. And the location is pretty far south for them, especially this early. But Auditman should check photos of redpolls to see if the "stripe" pattern is what he saw.

 

[birdmeister]

Maybe check White-crowned Sparrow, adult and immature?

I think the crown stripes on an immature WC Sparrow can have a decidedly reddish hue sometimes.

 

[Microtus]

Maybe check White-crowned Sparrow, adult and immature?

I think the crown stripes on an immature WC Sparrow can have a decidedly reddish hue sometimes.

This is also what I was thinking.

Also, welcome to the Forum, AUDITman.

 

[ceasar]

The Eastern Kingbird, a large flycatcher, with a gray back and white underparts, also has an orange/red stripe on the top of its head but it is normally concealed unless it is excited. The bird is quite common around wetlands in Northern Jersey and along the upper Delaware river in New York and PA.

Bob

 

[Birdbrain22]

The Eastern Kingbird, a large flycatcher, with a gray back and white underparts, also has an orange/red stripe on the top of its head but it is normally concealed unless it is excited. The bird is quite common around wetlands in Northern Jersey and along the upper Delaware river in New York and PA.

Bob

Eastern Kingbirds should would be hard to find after Sept here... they move out early. Also I would not think of this as a stripe but a patch on the head... which is very rarely seen. Anyway I agree with immature and adult White-crowned Sparrows... they are pushing through NJ these last few weeks in some large numbers this year.

Usually see 1 or 2 WCs here and there, but many more this year. I had one mixed flock of about 100 sparrows(WTSP, WCSP, SOSP, and Juncos) with White-crowns showing about 30 individuals.

 

[Earnest lad]

I dont suppose it could've been a flock of Redpolls could it?

 

[Microtus]

I dont suppose it could've been a flock of Redpolls could it?

They're not normally found in northern New Jersey at this time of year. That said, there are 6 reports in eBird for New Jersey/southern New York/Connecticut/Pennsylvania this autumn, of 1 or 2 individuals each.

 

[Earnest lad]

Thank you.

 

[Earnest lad]

Grey geese flock seen Little Woollden Moss, Lancashire

Please can I have help to "clinch" this as a lifer.
I took some pics of these birds which I am "certain" are Pink-footed Geese, but would be grateful if someone could please not only confirm this but also advise what would definitely separate the birds from, say, Tundra or Taiga Bean Geese.
My colour perception is not very good so any help is appreciated

 

[PYRTLE]

Please can I have help to "clinch" this as a lifer.

Yes, they are Pinkfeet. A good field guide is essential Kasfig and will help you to understand the subtle differences and increase your knowledge. The differences are structural, bill shape and pattern, finally leg colour. Bean Geese are fairly scarce, particularly the Tundra race.

P

 

[Earnest lad]

Dear Pyrtle
Sorry I accidentally posted here instead of making a new thread - then later realized what I had done.
Your helpful comments helped me conclude the birds are ifor a certainty, Pink-footed Geese : As I learn more I shall in time hopefully become knowledgeable and be able to id Bean Geese of the different sorts should any be mixed in with PFG flocks. Mind you this would take time