Ottawa: Can anyone confirm Oregon Junco? (1 Viewer)

[NatureLvrCanada]

There has been a reported Dark-eyed Junco 'Oregon form' in our city (Ottawa, Ontario - Canada). According to Cornell All About Birds website: "The "Oregon junco" is boldly marked blackish and brown, with a distinct dark hood, and is found in the western half of the continent."

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.html



This looks like a female. Thanks.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/89477083

 

[Storm-Petrel]

it looks like one to me

 

[Robert / Seattle]

There has been a reported Dark-eyed Junco 'Oregon form' in our city (Ottawa, Ontario - Canada). According to Cornell All About Birds website: "The "Oregon junco" is boldly marked blackish and brown, with a distinct dark hood, and is found in the western half of the continent."

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.html



This looks like a female. Thanks.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/89477083

Correct on Oregon Junco. However, it's a male. Nice pic.

 

[NatureLvrCanada]

Correct on Oregon Junco. However, it's a male. Nice pic.

Thanks. What about its colouring makes it a male?

 

[The Falcon]

Yup, a male Oregon Junco - Dark gray head and breast, Brown back and wings.

Female and immatures are duller than male's.

 

[Microtus]

If the subject of this thread is a male, can someone tell my why this bird is a female?

http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Sparrows/ORJUfem1.jpg

 

[Robert / Seattle]

If the subject of this thread is a male, can someone tell my why this bird is a female?

http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Sparrows/ORJUfem1.jpg

Hi Microtus,

I'm not sure that the pictured bird (link above) is a female. It looks like a "pale male" to me, but there is a lot of variability in the degree of "blackness" to the hood on these birds. The females here in the northwest have a "gray/brown" hood, as do some of the juvenile males. The pictured bird looks somewhat intermediate, more ash gray than black - which is why I think it's labeled "female", but which I think nonetheless is a male.

Best,

Robert

 

[Microtus]

This is labeled as an adult female
http://content.ornith.cornell.edu/UEWebApp/images/FHO_081202_00606V_L.jpg
Is that right? (main page http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.html). It is the Cornell Lab. of Ornithology picture for adult female "Oregon" Junco.

 

[Robert / Seattle]

This is labeled as an adult female
http://content.ornith.cornell.edu/UEWebApp/images/FHO_081202_00606V_L.jpg
Is that right? (main page http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.html). It is the Cornell Lab. of Ornithology picture for adult female "Oregon" Junco.

Could be, or maybe not. What comes immediately to my mind is that there's a lot of variation not just in birds, but in photographs these days. A "black" hood, when backlit, can look abosolutely "ash grey". Alternatively, an underexposed "grey/female" hood will appear "black/male". That said, the bird looks juvenile male to me (I see them daily in my backyard), -- BUT it is certainly an Oregon Junco, interesting enough in Ottawa to merit notice.

N'est pas?

 

[prairiemerlin]

Could be, or maybe not. What comes immediately to my mind is that there's a lot of variation not just in birds, but in photographs these days. A "black" hood, when backlit, can look abosolutely "ash grey". Alternatively, an underexposed "grey/female" hood will appear "black/male". That said, the bird looks juvenile male to me (I see them daily in my backyard), -- BUT it is certainly an Oregon Junco, interesting enough in Ottawa to merit notice.

N'est pas?

Actually, ageing/sexing juncos is VERY tricky - there is much overlap. It is best done in hand with measurements, by skulling, etc. I've seen quite a few ASY female Slate-colored Juncos with "typical male" plumage, and HY males with "typical female" plumage. I don't think you can age/sex this bird from this single photo.

I'm also surprised no one has mentioned the "Cassiar" Junco yet. I'm not saying that's what it is; it does indeed look like an Oregon to me. It's hard to be certain...

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html

Neil G.

 

[Microtus]

Thanks, guys. I think that the OP bird could be a female, as offered. Or not. I have no useful experience Oregon Juncos, and I noticed all sorts of variation in the photos I looked at. And, I wasn't going to mention Cassiar Junco at all. That's just too complicated.

 

[Robert / Seattle]

Thanks, guys. ... And, I wasn't going to mention Cassiar Junco at all. That's just too complicated.

Well, that's just a hybrid race afterall, further complicating the semantics. They are all of the same species when all is said and done. Nevertheless, here's a very informative link regarding the races as they occur in Eastern North America:

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html

Good discussion, here. Let's keep it going a while.

 

[Robert / Seattle]

And here's another occurrence, reported earlier this year, of a "western" form in Ontario:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=79000&highlight=oregon+junco

 

[tyrannulet]

This is labeled as an adult female
http://content.ornith.cornell.edu/UEWebApp/images/FHO_081202_00606V_L.jpg
Is that right? (main page http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.html). It is the Cornell Lab. of Ornithology picture for adult female "Oregon" Junco.

^The photo leads me to think of a male oregon junco. The female is usually a browner color in the head. The female does not contrast between the head and back as much as the male does.

I know people will think otherwise, but to me this bird is a male:smoke:

 

[prairiemerlin]

Well, that's just a hybrid race afterall, further complicating the semantics. They are all of the same species when all is said and done. Nevertheless, here's a very informative link regarding the races as they occur in Eastern North America:

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html

Good discussion, here. Let's keep it going a while.

Just a hybrid? There is no such thing as "just a hybrid". Hybrids are very fascinating, often more so than "pure" species. And, "Cassiar" Junco may not be a hybrid at all - it may be its own subspecies, part of the Slate-colored Junco complex.... very interesting, confusing, and fascinating at the same time.

Neil G.

 

[vermivoracelata]

A natural cord measurement of the wing would confirm sex.

Don't suppose you have one. But looks like a male to me.

Peter