Photo Quiz #4 (Answer)

Thanks for participating! Here is the answer:

The fact that this bird is poking it's head out of a cavity makes me immediately think of a woodpecker. The red throat patch, large white supercilium (line above eye) and white malar stripe (line through "cheek") on a mostly black head points to only one bird: a male Williamson's Sapsucker. One more hint is that this bird is nesting in a Quaking Aspen... they love Aspen!

I took this photo of a male Williamson's Sapsucker in June 2008 in the Rio Grande National Forest.

Here are the people who submitted correct answers:


Karen Carlsen
Laurie Foss
Sajni Kallichanda
Joel Such
Marcel Such
Deirdre Viel
Eric Wood

Photo Quiz #3 (Answer)

Thanks for participating! Here is the answer:

These are good looking birds! The thinly-bordered dark mask and yellow tail tell you that this is a waxwing. The pale yellow belly, white undertail coverts and lack of prominent white markings on wing make this a Cedar Waxwing (not a Bohemian Waxwing). Keep an eye and an ear out for these birds this winter. They are common in the winter throughout most of the U.S., especially where fruits and berries are plentiful. The bird in the photo quiz was taking a break from it's feast of Russian Olives outside my apartment. Their drawn-out, high-pitched call is distinctive. Some of you longer-toothed quizzers may not be able to hear it because it is so high-pitched.

I took this photo of a Cedar Waxwing on December 7, 2008 in Fort Collins, CO.

Here are the people who submitted correct answers:

Adam Birek
Karen Carlsen
Eric DeFonso
Grant Gardner
Sajni Kallichanda
Jessica Lux
Jen McCabe
Mike Rader
Dana Starkey
Joel Such
Marcel Such
Christine Thody
Deirdre Viel
Eric Wood

Thanks,

Jeff