Taking pictures of hawks and other birds near sunset yesterday, I originally thought this was a mockingbird. We’re lousy with mockingbirds this summer (including this nest which gave us three more) and there were a couple others sitting on the wires nearby.
But something wasn’t right for a mockingbird. The beak’s wrong, for one.
And when he turned I could see some yellow color on his belly, which definitely rules out a mockingbird. So maybe it’s related to one of the hooded orioles that comes around sometimes?
But while they’re yellow on the belly, they’re also yellow on the back, tail, and head . So what was it?
Yeah, not a mockingbird, not an oriole. The August mystery bird! Maybe the Merlin app from Cornell University can help?
(Image: Merlin Bird ID app)
And that makes sense, because I recognize that name! The Merlin Bird ID app also has an excellent function for IDing birdsong, and late last year it had ID’d one of these!
(Image: Merlin Bird ID app)
There are a handful of species that the app has heard but I haven’t seen or photographed yet. Check one off of that list!
The fact that I last got a hit on this song almost ten months ago makes me think that it’s migratory and this is just the time of year for it to be passing through. Lucky me to catch it as it was in the area!
We Love The Stars Too Fondly 