Hi Nikki,
The bird pictured is a female Red-winged Blackbird. I've been confused by
them myself a number of times. Especially when they're colorful like this
one.
For future reference, you can tell this is a blackbird because of the sharp
and long bill (like you described), the unique perching style (mostly
verticle with tail cocked straight down), the shape, and the overall dark
and streaky plumage along with the color. Those last features aren't found
together in any of our native sparrows or pipits.
All of our native sparrows have relatively light undersides (except the
distinctive Spotted Towhee). This bird, as you can see, has a dull and
medium-brownish underside with low-contrast and extensive dark streaking.
So this rules those out. Not to mention the distinctive blackbird bill
shape. Any Fox Sparrow would have a much less patterned upperside with dark
streaking on white underparts (and would also rarely perch in trees). Both
pipits would be much lighter in color and the red would be distributed much
differently on Red-throated. It's also worth noting that Red-throated Pipit
or any hybrid with it would be a very rare vagrant in Oregon and a
first-time record at Baskett Slough.
It's good you asked this, because now that you know this ID you will only
have to see these blackbirds a few more times and you'll know what they are
forever. That's the beauty of experience--it works a thousand times better
than any description or field guide.
I hope this was helpful. Someone with more experience than me might have a
comment too.
Good birding, and happy migration!
-Caleb Centanni
On Mar 24, 2016 12:23 AM, "Nikki Chapman" <nikkichapman19@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello Dear Obol Community,
I've backed myself into a corner here staring at online pictures and
several books and then back at my photos. I was with a friend down at
Basket Slough a week ago, when a pair of sparrow sized birds caught my eye
in a nearby tree. The sun was hitting what seemed to be an unusual amount
of orange-red around the head. We tailed the pair up the road a bit and
these four photos are the best of mine. My friend has a better camera and
lens, so his are not doubt clearer, and I will request them if necessary.
There are four pictures in a row of this bird on my flickr page, starting
with this one:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132973942@N05/25901462072/in/datetaken-public/
As you can see, the brighter orange is on the lores, the malar and the
throat, with a richer chestnut on the scapulars. The crown and cheek are a
medium brown, with a thick white eyebrow. There is no eye ring, and the
eyes are dark. The beak is uniformly dark and very sharp, like a siskin.
the legs look dark, but the sunlight makes that indeterminate. The breast,
side and flanks are all uniform buff and brown streaks. There are two thin
white wing bars that I can see, and the rump, coverts, and wing feathers
all appear dark with lighter edges. It seemed about 5-6 inches in size. I
don't remember if we heard it call, so that wasn't helpful.
So the beak color and shape seems to rule out all the sparrows that have
similar markings. Or is it a red/sooty fox sparrow morph? I keep coming
back to an American/Red-Throated Pipit hybrid. I know they hang out
together. Is a hybrid a possibility? Or if I'm way off track here, I would
appreciate any thoughts..
Happy Spring to you all, and thanks!
Nikki Chapman
Portland
