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Identification help!

Discussion

3 replies
Posted by Anthony Pollard on April 8, 2016 at 3:21 PM
Identification help!
Once saw a pilated woodpecker near this area but have several times seen this bird emerging from the hole in a dead cypress tree on the northern gulf coast.  Any help would be appreciated. 
Posted by Jim DeWitt on April 8, 2016 at 4:32 PM
Not a lot of field marks there, but by bill color and shape, shiny black and habitat, you've got a Eurasian Starling in breeding plumage.
Posted by Anthony Pollard on April 8, 2016 at 6:24 PM
Thank you, Jim!  This is an unusual sight and bird for me, especially emerging from what I consider to be a "woodpecker" hole.  
Posted by Richard Ditch on April 10, 2016 at 7:55 PM
They are notorious cavity nest thieves and have done a lot of damage to native species.

Here's one that has stolen a Gila Woodpecker cavity in a saguaro cactus in AZ.