Massachusetts USA Today July 25 red-eyed Vireo maybe? (1 Viewer)

[crazyfingers]

Is this maybe a red-eyed Vireo? I think it looks like one but perhaps it's too big? It's in a field that's surrounded by white pine, oak, maple, etc, forest in a state park. It appears to be sitting on a milk weed to give some perspective on size.

Unfortunately in the field there are a lot of heat ripples in the air so the shot isn't so clear. I took it with my Canon SX70 at full zoom. It stuck around for me to take several shots but this is the best for ripples and the sun showing the side of the head.

forest in a state park.

Unfortunately in the field there are a lot of heat ripples in the air so the shot isn't so clear. I took it with my Canon SX70 at full zoom.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

It's a Meadowlark.

 

[Brad Hacker]

Eastern Meadowlark. Note the yellow lores, white face with black stripes, long pointed bill, and brown and black barred feathers with white edges.
Could be Western or Chihuahuan Meadowlark, but unlikely based on range.

 

[crazyfingers]

Cool! it's a lifer. Thanks!

 

[Butty]

When faced with an unknown bird always look first at the bill - which here has a deep base tapering evenly to a fine point, quite unlike the bill of any species of vireo. This bird has a large pale supercilium but otherwise doesn't have any features of red-eyed vireo.
I suspect that you don't have a field guide, and, if not, I would strongly recommend you to acquire one: it's far and away the best way to learn bird ID and will change your birding life!