Bird identification help

PhilR said:
I spent ten minutes staring at a bittern 20 feet away before I finally saw it. The green legs gave it away. And they're pretty good size.

Anyone interested in bird ID should try the Merlin app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You can put in a description with location, and it will give likely matches. My new favorite is the Sound ID feature. Just open your microphone, and it will highlight bird calls in real time.
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Merlin Sound ID has helped me find a few birds now. I’ll turn it on and sometimes it picks up birds I haven’t officially marked off my life list. I then follow the sound to concentrate more on a specific area. Even though they aren’t that rare, it helped me a few days ago find my first Wilson’s Warbler.
 
Not a birder per se, but what a cool bird. Worthy of interest. Never heard of this one before.
 
If you want to verify your sighting, or can't see the bird fully, try this site: Birdnet
It is hosted by Cornell Univ. Ornithology Dept. and gives bird ID by song. Its also free!
 
kmudgn said:
If you want to verify your sighting, or can't see the bird fully, try this site: Birdnet
It is hosted by Cornell Univ. Ornithology Dept. and gives bird ID by song. Its also free!
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FYI: Merlin is the app that works with Birdnet, also by Cornell Ornithology.
 
Matt B said:
Looks like it, but they’re usually hanging around wetlands this time of year.
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I was fishing at a pond near my house when I saw it, so def qualifies as wetlands. This pond has all kinds of cool birds (including a nesting pair of great blue herons as well).
 
3rd sighting! Back to original bass pond. This one was in flight. Swooped into same cove I was in and then flew by close enough to easily identify.
 
Bugmeister said:
I saw what I think is a red winged blackbird yesterday, and again today. That was pretty cool
(Crappy picture below)

View attachment 64492
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There is one of those that likes a certain reed on my right (casting side) at one of my more productive spots. It used to talk at me a lot and fly around, but I think it's used to my presence now and just moves over a bit until I move on.
 
Tom Butler said:
There is one of those that likes a certain reed on my right (casting side) at one of my more productive spots. It used to talk at me a lot and fly around, but I think it's used to my presence now and just moves over a bit until I move on.
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Jeff Foxworthy tone here: If you spend enough time at a fishin' hole that wild animals habituate to your presence, YOU MIGHT BE A SERIOUS FISHERMAN.
 
Irafly said:
Merlin Sound ID has helped me find a few birds now. I’ll turn it on and sometimes it picks up birds I haven’t officially marked off my life list. I then follow the sound to concentrate more on a specific area. Even though they aren’t that rare, it helped me a few days ago find my first Wilson’s Warbler.
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Old post, but got the merlin app recently and am really liking it. So nice being able to just listen in on the outdoors and have the app tell you what birds are making noise.

Had no idea how many sounds Steller's Jays make.
 
Long_Rod_Silvers said:
Old post, but got the merlin app recently and am really liking it. So nice being able to just listen in on the outdoors and have the app tell you what birds are making noise.

Had no idea how many sounds Steller's Jays make.
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Stellers, freaking croak and squawk out there don’t they?

I love the app!
 
Stellars will mimic hawk screeches to see if they can startle something edible into revealing itself.
 
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