Couple Little Brown Birds - Phoenix, AZ USA (1 Viewer)

[BruceH]

These photos were taken this weekend in the north part of the Phoenix valley in residential desert area of two different birds. The shapes look familiar but not the markings.

The first photo of the small bird with the black beak, standing in front of the White Winged Dove, is the bird of interest. The 2nd and 3rd pictures are of the same bird.

Thanks for any help on the IDs.

 

[Dancat]

Are you sure its the same bird? #1 looks to me like a BH cowbird, not sure about the other with the white belly.

 

[guy_incognito]

Definitely different birds.

First looks like Brown-headed Cowbird, and the other looks like a young Verdin.

 

[Lisa W]

Agree with guy_incognito.

 

[fugl]

Agree, Brown-headed Cowbird & Verdin. And, for the record, I think the OP's saying that the 2nd & 3rd birds are the same individual not that all 3 are (which they're clearly not).

 

[BruceH]

Sorry for the confusion and thanks Fugi for explaining. The bird in the first photo is a different bird than the bird in photos 2 and 3. I included only the one photo of what has been identified as the Brown Headed Cowbird and two photos of the second bird in question, now identified as a young Verdin.

Thanks for the ids. I missed totally on the Cowbird, but did suspect the Verdin, but that lack of markings had me doubting the id.

Is the Brown Headed Cowbird a young bird without full adult markings?

 

[nartreb]

>Is the Brown Headed Cowbird a young bird without full adult markings?

If anything, the females are even plainer than the juveniles. I'm not sure about this one, except that it's not an adult male.

I also couldn't firmly rule out female/juvenile Brewer's, but I have no familiarity with them and I think it does look better for BHC.

 

[Nutcracker]

I also couldn't firmly rule out female/juvenile Brewer's, but I have no familiarity with them and I think it does look better for BHC.

Bill's too thick for Brewer's; agree with female / juvenile B-h Cowbird.

 

[AlexC]

>I also couldn't firmly rule out female/juvenile Brewer's

Let us west coast birders do it for you then!

In addition to the thicker bill, note the stockier structure, pale throat, as well as hinted faint breast streaking. Das a cowbird.