Posted by Howard Cheek on April 19, 2011 at 10:12 AM
I spotted this bird for the first time late yesterday under overcast skies around 7:30pm
Only the one shot, think it's the Hepatic Tanager?
If so, its usual range is into west Texas. Perhaps a stray due to our recent wildfires there??
F/5.6, 1/160th, ISO 640, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x extender.
About 60% of FF.
Posted by Richard Ditch on April 19, 2011 at 12:58 PM
A tough angle to judge a bird without being able to see the beak, but I think this is a House Finch.
Posted by Gary Gulash on April 25, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Red Crossbill as an alternative?
Posted by Howard Cheek on April 25, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Thank you both for your input. Here's a shot from early this morning. Heavy overcast @ 1/60th & F/5.6
It's the Hepatic Tanager, a migrant through here..
Posted by Richard Ditch on April 25, 2011 at 8:37 PM
Definitely a tanager - no confusion on that now that we can see the diagnostic beak. But how did you eliminate Summer Tanager and settle on Hepatic Tanager? The pale bill shown here is typical of Summer, not Hepatic. And the Hepatic should show dark/gray lores.
Compare your shot with the immature male, first spring Summer Tanager on page 412 of the Smithsonian Field Guided to the Birds of North America edited by Ted Floyd.
Posted by Howard Cheek on April 25, 2011 at 11:08 PM
OK Richard, I hate it when you're right
The splotchy plumage made it look like the Hepatic, never found an image of the first Spring male Summer Tanager, it's plain to see now..
Thank you
Discussion
5 repliesOnly the one shot, think it's the Hepatic Tanager?
If so, its usual range is into west Texas. Perhaps a stray due to our recent wildfires there??
F/5.6, 1/160th, ISO 640, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x extender.
About 60% of FF.
It's the Hepatic Tanager, a migrant through here..
Compare your shot with the immature male, first spring Summer Tanager on page 412 of the Smithsonian Field Guided to the Birds of North America edited by Ted Floyd.
The splotchy plumage made it look like the Hepatic, never found an image of the first Spring male Summer Tanager, it's plain to see now..
Thank you