ML129519151
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
- Tags
- Habitat
Observation details
Female found independently by Roger Schoedl and Dick and Pat Cabe this morning. It apparently spent the entire day along the south shore of Talbert Lake, where the small peninsula with willows juts in to the north (northeast of the fenced-in garden by the library). I was able to observe it for most of the 45 minutes to an hour I was there, as it foraged in the leaf litter underneath the willows, and walked along the muddy shoreline or occasionally in the shallow water at the lake's edge. The following description is from notes taken while I observed the bird. This bird was similar in size and shape to a Brewer's Blackbird, although no other blackbirds were present for direct comparison. It was about twice the size (or slightly larger than that) of a Song Sparrow, the only other passerine that was present near it. True to its name, the upper parts were extensively rusty, with a rust-colored crown, and mantle and scapular feathers that were blackish with broad rust-colored edges, so that the back appeared almost entirely rusty. The rump and upper tail coverts were medium gray, contrasting with the back and the blackish tail. The upper wings were primarily blackish, but with distinct narrow rusty edges to the greater secondary coverts and tertials. The face pattern was quite bold, with a broad tawny supercilium and throat, contrasting with the dark charcoal grayish face, sides of neck and upper breast. The pale yellow iris was quite bold against the dark face. The lower breast and belly were tan or pale brown that blended into the gray of the breast. The under tail coverts were a medium gray like the upper tail coverts. The legs and feet were black, as was the bill. The bird called multiple times, giving a rather rich 'check' or 'churk' call, that was slightly higher pitched in comparison to the rather flat, dry 'check' of a Brewer's Blackbird.
Technical information
- Original file size
- 2.45 MB