Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.

Bird ID Please

Discussion

7 replies
Posted by Jeff Seldomridge on December 5, 2010 at 2:30 AM
Bird ID Please
Is this a Western Towee? It was photographed south of Olympia, Washington.

Thank you.
Posted by Mia McPherson on December 5, 2010 at 5:50 AM
Jeff

It is a Towhee, do you have any images where the wings aren't all fluffed up?
Posted by Richard Ditch on December 5, 2010 at 10:20 AM
Yes, this is a Towhee. I'd like to see other views as this looks more like a female Eastern Towhee than the expected Spotted Towhee of the west.
Posted by Mia McPherson on December 5, 2010 at 11:02 AM
Rich, That is why I asked for the other views, it sure looks like an eastern to me

Well outside of its range
Posted by Jeff Seldomridge on December 5, 2010 at 12:50 PM
A split second after I snapped the shutter, the Towee headed for the ground (in the thicket). I did take another very blurred photo of one landing outside my back door. This earlier photo should be good enough for identification.

I'll try to find the Towee again.

Posted by Drew Fulton on December 5, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Now it looks like the normal Spotted Towhee you would expect out west. THe lack of white visible on the wings in the first image had us all thinking Eastern.

EDIT: I just looked at the second image and posted and then went back to read your post more closely. I realized you said these were two different birds and they clearly are. The second bird is definitely a Spotted Towhee. I'm still unconvinced on the first image.

Drew
Posted by Mia McPherson on December 5, 2010 at 2:48 PM
I agree with Drew, the second bird is a spotted towhee, the original post still has me puzzled
Posted by Jeff Seldomridge on December 5, 2010 at 3:30 PM
I did spot the same Towhee (fairly sure) in the same tree a couple of hours ago and it did have spotted wings.

Thank you all for your input.

Jeff