I believe that this is a variety of flycatcher, but can’t verify. Seems to have more yellow than any flycatcher in my book and is about the size of a cardinal. Only stops by for a visit once in awhile and is very camera shy. The pix were taken at a distance, so not very sharp. Where’s Garth?!!
That’s one I can’t identify right off the top of my head, but I’ll dig around a bit. It doesn’t even fall into my general group of LBB – (Little Brown Birds) for which if I’m feeling lazy don’t even try to identify, unless I have a really good look at them.
Carole, take a look at the Blue Headed Vireo – that’s a likely candidate. I had to look it up….
Garth
@Garth
That fact that is was very shy should’ve been a giveaway – I hear a lot of vireos but don’t see them often.
Garth, I had to look up the Blue-Headed Vireo on the net—it is not even listed in my book! This bird doesn’t have the white spectacles, and has a dark band at the eye, but not through the eye. What throws me off, is that this bird was VERY yellow, closer to canary yellow than the light buff that is listed in most descriptions. There were two birds and neither was singing. Both were busy catching bugs.
Thank you for your help!
@Carole
What about an tropical kingbird? Florida is outside of the normal range,it looks somewhat similar. Most characteristics are close, but I wouldn’t call it a solid ID. Kingbirds, at least the ones I’ve seen, tend not to be shy.
I agree after looking at a couple drawings of blue headed vireo, that’s not it.
Yikes, Garth! What book are you using for ID? Again, I had to go to the net! My Audubon Handbook is not nearly as good as my old Peterson’s Field Guide that is at the bottom of Silver Springs.
The Tropical Kingbird is closer, but I think the tail is the wrong color. I am leaning more towards the Great Crested Flycatcher because of the markings on the tail. The inner tail is a rich cinnamon and the outer tail is striped with cinnamon-brown. The shape of the tail seems about right.
I have seen the great crested here before, but not for a few years and I don’t think it was as yellow as these two birds.
By now, everyone is probably thinking, “who cares!” 🙂
@Carole, Yep, this is a dog blog, characteristics match great crested
except for no crest, but you don’t always see that. That’s probably it.
That is what is great about this blog—you can find a variety here!
Thanks Garth!
@Carole, Like myself, everyone else probably has nothing to contribute, and also like myself they are enjoying the conversation!