Photo Quiz #2 (Answer)

Thanks for participating! Here is the answer:

The photo shows a gray bird at the bottom of its wing flap. You can see the upperside of the wing displaying a very strong buff-colored stripe running down the middle of the wing. This wing stripe is a common feature in many thrush species; this bird is a thrush. Notice also that this bird has a white ring around its eye. These two features on a gray bird are fairly indicative of Townsend's Solitaire. I thought that the slightly forked tail on this individual was a little tough. This bird may be missing or molting its central tail feathers. In Colorado, these birds are altitudinal migrants moving down from the mountains into lower elevations during the winter. This is a great bird to learn its simple bell-like call note and its bubbly, finch-like song. You can hear their call all year round and their song for much of the year.

I took this photo of a Townsend's Solitaire on July 13, 2008 near the South San Juan Wilderness, Colorado.

Here are the people who submitted correct answers:

Lauren Burke
Karen Carlsen
Jacob Cooper
Grant Gardner
Scott Hartley
Heather Ishak
Jessica Lux
Sarah Quinlivan
Doug Shoffner
Mark Stackhouse
Joel Such
Marcel Such
Deirdre Viel
Heather Morris

Thanks,

Jeff

Photo Quiz #1 (Answer)

Thank you all for participating. Everyone who submitted an answer got this one correct! I thought maybe someone would be stumped by the fact that this bird does not have a red tail. You guys are too smart for that!

This bird has the dark marks on the leading edges of the underwing that are characteristic of a Red-tailed Hawk. These are known as patagial marks.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawks often have strongly barred tails, a belly band and pale, rectangular "windows" near the end of the wing. Adults have red tails and more even-colored wings. Adults tend to have less of a belly band.

I took this photo of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in Kiptopeke State Park, Virginia on November 17, 2007.

Here are all the people who submitted correct answers:

Karen Carlsen
Susan Culliney
Ben Dranetz
Baron Gibson
David Kramer
Gary Lefko
Jessica Lux
Jen McCabe
Grant Pullen
Nerissa Rujanevech
Mark Stackhouse
Joel Such
Marcel Such
Deirdre Viel

Thanks,

Jeff