Two ID helps (1 Viewer)

[Michael W]

Hello,
Yesterday morning I was outside taking pictures. Right away, two hawks flew over. I assumed that they were Red-tailed Hawks and snapped a picture of each. Later, on viewing them, one seemed to have white wing patches. The hawk was flying directly away from the sun which was just coming up--Are the wing patches results of the sun catching them that way? I noticed that the patches aren't symmetrical.

Later, I noticed chickadees scolding something in a nearby Serviceberry bush. There was a sillouette of a bird in it - about the size of a robin, but slightly smaller. I managed one bad shot of the bird before it flew away. It chased something around very quickly before alighting on a tree a ways off. Unfortunately, I was caught withought binoculars, and by the time I came back with them, the bird was gone. I think it was a Northern (Great Grey) Shrike. My question is: Does this bird have the shape of a Shrike? Sorry about the picture quality.

Thanks in advance!
Michael

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Michael

I'd say the first one's an extreme dark-phase Red-tail.

Second bird, sorry, no, not really shrike-shaped, the head's too small for starters. If I had to pin a name on it, I'd be going for something on sparrow lines - maybe a towhee or a large sparrow such as Fox or White-crowned. But you reckon it was bigger than that?

Michael

 

[Michael W]

Thanks Michael!
I agree on the Red-tailed Hawk.

The second bird was definitely larger than a White-crowned Sparrow. The bird had its head turned sideways. This makes it look smaller. Did you already consider that, or is it still too small?

It couldn't be a towhee, because they've left for the winter.

Thanks, Michael

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Michael,

Yep, did - shrikes have big heads for their size, even at that angle.

Hmmm, try to think of something else . . . doesn't look right for a thrush, and I guess that counts out Townsend's Solitaire as well? Not right for Gray Jay either. 'Fraid I'm stuck!

Michael

 

[Michael W]

When the bird flew, it was in hot pursuit of something. It flew fairly straight and then dived down before leveling off again. It was definitely a predator of some sort.

Michael

 

[Strix]

The way the bird is sitting in the second picture really makes it look like nothing more than a robin, towhee or grosbeak. But I'll take your word for it that it was bigger.

It doesn't feel right for a shrike.

But if I use my imagination and realize the head is turned, I can kind of see it as a Merlin or Kestrel, have you looked at that?

 

[Luc]

Hi Michael,

Usually, the Great Gray Shrike perched on top of tree.

Luc
Québec, Canada

 

[Michael W]

Hi Strix,
On further recollection, the bird was about the size of an American Robin, but the behavior was not at all right. Towhees and Grosbeaks are gone for the winter. A kestrel or Merlin is a good guess, but the bird was definitely too small.

Hi Luc,
Shrikes do usually perch on the tops of trees, but I have seen them in the middle several times.

Michael

 

[Andrew Rowlands]

I don't think that a grey shrike can be ruled out. posture and shape seem ok, 'smallness' of the head could be down to angle.

Smaller birds scolding it fits, as could the description of it flying away.

That it is 'in' a shrub not on - maybe that's where a chase ended?

Northern or Loggerhead?

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[Michael W]

I bet your right Andy.

I also forgot to mention (as always) that the bird landed on top of a small pine tree after it flew off. Also, the bird had been on an open limb of the bush until it jumped farther in when I aproached.

I still think it's a shrike (Northern - Loggerheads don't make it up this far.)

Michael

 

[Strix]

It could well be a shrike. Considering your description of it as a predator, and the size of the bird, I can't think of anything else it could be. It's too bad the head is turned the way it is, it makes it hard to tell what exactly it is. Shrikes frequently are high up in a bush, but I can see one a bit down from the top, especially if he was being harassed. If it's that small and predatory, a shrike would be the only thing that fits. I get the impression it is a good shrike year, I've seen two (excubitor) already just in my yard here in WI.

 

[Michael W]

This is the second one I've seen this fall. Maybe that means that we'll finally get a good winter. Last winter we had mostly rain and whenever it got cold, it also got dry. We got about 5 inches of snow the entire winter. :C

Michael

 

[promisingplayer]

Hi Michael W,

I live closeby in Vancouver, BC. I was looking at your pictures and reading the replies about picture 2. Picture 2 is of a Rufous-sided Towhee, also known as a Spotted Towhee.

Here are my observations. You mentioned that the bird was a bit smaller than a robin, which fits the size of a Rufous-sided Towhee. Towhees prefer to sit in the middle of a bush or tree, remaining hidden, at least when there are leaves to hide them. However, I have also on occasion seen towhees sitting towards the end of branches in coniferous trees in the park, which is next to my home. When looking at the picture, the tail is too long for a Northern Shrike, yet it is consistent with the length of a tail on a towhee. My next point is the shadow outline of the bird does not match the outline of a Northern Shrike, but it does match the outline of the towhee. When you look closely at your picture, you can see a bit of brown on the side of the bird between the white and black. You mentioned that its flight pattern indicated to you that it was predatory. The flight pattern you described is consistent with the flight pattern of the Rufous-sided Towhees here. You also noted that it is too late in the season for towhees. Towhees stay in Vancouver throughout the year. I have them outside foraging on the ground under my feeder and in my garden everyday throughout the fall and winter. With the mild weather we've been experiencing, this towhee just hasn't left the Spokane area yet.

I hope this clears up your confusion. To let you know, I've been watching birds all my life. The towhee was one of my favourites when I was little. I still like its shy personality and colourful markings.

Kate :hi:

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Michael,

Must admit, I'd agree with Kate here. From the Sibley guide, Spotted Towhees are resident justabout throughout WA, not only in the 'wet zone' west of the Cascades; yes sure they may mostly leave where you are in the mountains, but they're hardy birds that are only likely to leave completely when the winter weather gets really tough (which it can't be yet, as there's still some leaves left on the tree in the pic!)

Mobbing/chasing behaviour can be a funny thing; quite often small birds will chase larger birds that pose no threat to them at all. Over here, it is quite common to see House Sparrows chasing Collared Doves. Maybe they're just playing, maybe they think of them as food thieves, maybe they've made an identification blunder and mistook them for a raptor, who knows!

I also lightened up the pic, and however much I lighten it, the bird is still pretty dark much of the underside. Shrikes are gleaming white under, and that would still show as fairly pale even in the part-silhouette this bird is in.

Michael

 

[promisingplayer]

Hi Michael F,

When you lightened up the picture, the rufous colour on the side is much more noticeable, at least to me anyhow.

Thanks, Kate