QUIZ BIRD!!!

I am a young bird. Notice how large my beak is?

The above photo was shot on 28 August on the outskirts of Hillsborough, NC. As alluded to in the caption, the bird is a juvenile.

There’s mom with some food for me. I look more like my mother at this time than I do my father.

If you think you know the name of this bird without clues, great, if not, read on.

This bird is obviously a local nester. You can find it in shrubby fields and edges from Arpil to September.

Although it’s bill is brown now, the maxilla (upper bill) will become blackish and the mandible will be gray giving the bill a two-toned look.

I don’t know what sex the bird in the photo is, but if it’s a male it will look grossly (hint) different at this time next year than it does now.

There is a similar species which shares nearly the same habitat as this bird but is smaller and does not have wingbars.

This bird belongs to the same family as the N. Cardinal, Cadinalidae.

If you still don’t know what the bird is look below for a really helpful clue. BUT, don’t look until you’re hopelessly stuck, until you feel that you’ll never get the right answer. Heck, you might not even know the ID after looking below, so go ahead, have a look. And, don’t be shy. It doesn’t hurt to take a guess, no one will think less of you if you don’t get it right. It’s supposed to be fun!

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I’m looking for a nice juicy grasshopper or katydid to feed to my youngsters. I’m the quiz bird’s father.

 

 

 

7 responses to QUIZ BIRD!!!

    • Greg Dodge says:

      Yes, yes, it is a juvenile Blue Grosbeak. Congratulations to all!!
      Was that too easy???
      For those who are local, the photos were taken at Gold Park in Hillsborough, NC. Blue Grosbeaks nest at Gold Park, the field at Few’s Ford along the Eno River and many other local areas with suitable habitat, fields with shrubs or small trees. By the way, as mentioned, Indigo Buntings often nest in the taller trees along the edge of the fields in which Blue Grosbeaks nest.
      Thanks,

  1. Kathy says:

    A blue grosbeak? I’ve seen rose-breasted grosbeaks here, but haven’t seen the blue ones. Beautiful bird!

  2. leslie says:

    Some kind of grossbeak but I only know rose-breasted grossbeak on site and the dad bird doesn’t look like one of those.

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