small grey bird - Denver, Colorado (1 Viewer)

[barnswallow]

Can anyone help me identify this bird? The shot was taken in mid-may, in Denver Colorado. He/she was flitting around the Locust tree in the backyard along with a couple of bushtits. Thank you!

 

[Larry Lade]

I think this may be a Plumbeous Vireo, due to the overall grayness of of the plumage. Both the Plumbeous and the Cassins' Vireos would occur in Colorado at this time of the year.

These two species together with the Blue-headed Vireo were formerly considered to be the Solitary Vireo, but have now been split into three distinct species.

 

[The Falcon]

It's indeed a Plumbeous Vireo. Nice picture!

 

[JANJ]

Isn´t there a slight greenish-yellow tone to the secondaries and the breast side, at the bend of the wing, lacking in Plumbeous (perhapas except in fall birds when fresher and brighter) and indicating Cassin´s. It could however be a light effect.

JanJ

 

[Dave Hall]

Hi I agree with Larry and the falcon on this one Plumbeous Vireo for me

 

[barnswallow]

Isn´t there a slight greenish-yellow tone to the secondaries and the breast side, at the bend of the wing, lacking in Plumbeous (perhapas except in fall birds when fresher and brighter) and indicating Cassin´s. It could however be a light effect.

JanJ

I believe it is the lighting... that locust tree is very green.

 

[barnswallow]

Thank you everyone!

 

[Lisa W]

Just wanted to say - nice shot.

 

[Larry Lade]

Jan, I noticed that greenish cast on some underparts of the bird, but thought that it was due to lighting issues.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

Can anyone help me identify this bird? The shot was taken in mid-may, in Denver Colorado. He/she was flitting around the Locust tree in the backyard along with a couple of bushtits. Thank you!

I live in Boulder, Colorado. I've recently (only on two occasions, and never previously) seen a tiny, slim, two-tone grey bird at my birdfeeder (in December, cold weather). Smaller than a mountain chickadee ... about the size of a hummingbird, but not a hummingbird ... fairly thin beak, and not long. Somewhat similar to the image in the original posting, but I THINK there were few if any distinct markings on the wings (or anywhere else). The two tones of grey were neither real dark nor real light grey. Anyone know what it was?

 

[Dortmundbirder]

Not sure if you get them in winter in Colorado but you might look at some pictures of
Ruby crowned Kinglet

 

[Rapala]

I live in Boulder, Colorado. I've recently (only on two occasions, and never previously) seen a tiny, slim, two-tone grey bird at my birdfeeder (in December, cold weather). Smaller than a mountain chickadee ... about the size of a hummingbird, but not a hummingbird ... fairly thin beak, and not long. Somewhat similar to the image in the original posting, but I THINK there were few if any distinct markings on the wings (or anywhere else). The two tones of grey were neither real dark nor real light grey. Anyone know what it was?

A Titmouse would be a bit larger, but still a possibility. Ruby-Crowned is probably your best bet.

 

[RafaelMatias]

IMO the bird is clearly a Plumbeous Vireo.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

Not sure if you get them in winter in Colorado but you might look at some pictures of
Ruby crowned Kinglet

Definitely no oilive-green tint, more bluesh-gray. And no "tuff" or crest sticking up on top of head. And no "ruby-red" crown. They looked a bit like tiny mountain bluebirds.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

IMO the bird is clearly a Plumbeous Vireo.

Looks closer than anything else I've seen. I don't remember seeing the white bars and darker areas on the wings, but I could have missed that. I also didn't notice the white ring around the eyes, but I also could have missed that. I need to get better at looking for all of the important identifying characteristics ... I'm a newby at this stuff, but I sure like watching all the various birds that are attracted by the feeder that my wife wisely put right outside our kitchen window (house finches, juncos, chickadees, steller's jays, towhee's, flickers, ...).

 

[TLeukering]

Look up Bushtit. No titmouses occur in Boulder Co. (except as vagrants).

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

Look up Bushtit. No titmouses occur in Boulder Co. (except as vagrants).

Definitely didn't see any brown tint anywhere, but supposedly that might be missing from an "inland bushtit". The bushtit search DID lead me to a pic of a blue-grey gnatcatcher that looked a LOT like the birds I saw ... that might be my leading candidate now. If I see them again, I'm going to look for the presence or absence of white wing-bars ... that should differentiate between plombeous vireo and blue-grey gnatcatcher, I think. Also, I'll be looking for the presence or absence of a white eye-ring ... that should differentiate between the bushtit vs the gnatcatcher or vireo.

 

[TLeukering]

The main problem with Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is that they depart the state before the end of October. As they're obligate insectivores, they don't survive well in sub-freezing temps and lots of snow.

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

The main problem with Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is that they depart the state before the end of October. As they're obligate insectivores, they don't survive well in sub-freezing temps and lots of snow.

Thanks for that info ... I didn't know if their name really indicated their diet or not. We had some VERY cold weather here a few weeks ago, and there definitely aren't any gnats around here now, so I guess I can rule out the gnatcatcher. Whatever they were, they were eating the suet that my wife made for them (mostly lard, I think).