Bird identification

   / Bird identification #11  
I'm going to have to disagree with the majority opinion here. It sounds like a member of the tern family to me. Kingfishers are rarely seen in groups of more than two whereas terns are gregarious. Terns and killdeers look very similar and, in fact, use similar nesting habitats (sandy beaches). This site lists three species of terns in Texas, the gull-billed tern, the interior least tern, and the sandwich tern. Here is a photograph of the interior least tern along with it's range in Texas.

Most tern's feed by hovering in one place over water, then diving headfirst into the water to capture small fish, like minnows. This is similar to kingfishers. They are very entertaining to watch, particularly in large groups. Here is another reference on least terns that is very informative.

It is likely that what you saw are interior least terns. The gull-billed tern does not feed in the same manner as other terns (as described above) and the sandwich tern is differently colored than what you describe.
 
   / Bird identification
  • Thread Starter
#12  
I've looked at 10 web site pictures of the Belted Kingfisher, they are all blue and they all have a crest. I'm sure that Audubon knows what they are talking about, but that sure leaves me confused.

These birds just look nothing like Kingfishers. The way they fly, everything, very different /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

That's the tough thing about IDing anything like a bird or a snake, they change throughout their lifespan, there are all sorts of natural variations, etc. But Kingfishers, as far as all the ones I've seen and the pix I've seen, all have a stripe across the head and a crest.

The most clear identifying thing about these birds was their fan tail that was dark with a white strip near the end. Problem is, you can look at a hundred bird pix and never see one at an in-flight angle that would let you see the tail.

Anyway, I'm not meaning to sound contrary. I'm just certain these were not Kingfishers. I'm pretty sure they are migrating through, because there were a flock of a dozen of them, landing in the trees near the pond and then flying out, diving into the water and flying back to the tree. We've never seen them before, and I'm betting they are gone when we get up there this weekend.....

I do appreciate all the ideas.... it won't be the end of the world if I never figure out what they were, and I'm halfway there /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
   / Bird identification #13  
sendero,

Did you see fishman's post about 2 hours before yours? I think he's got them pegged as Least Terns, an endangered species that breeds in our area from April through June.
 
   / Bird identification #14  
I've seen lots of Kingfishers, but have never seen Kingfishers in a group of more than 1 or 2...I'm voting with the Tern.
 
   / Bird identification
  • Thread Starter
#15  
I did. I've looked at several pix (ain't Google wonderful /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) of the Terns and the bird I saw looks a lot more like the Tern than a Kingfisher, but they were not this (Least Tern) bird.

But, I do think they could be in that "family", the size, general wing/tail shape were definitely similar. Not similar were the yellow beak) I can't be certain of this, I didnt' get that close a look but I think these birds had a dark beak) and the coloration is different (no white except for a stripe on the wings and on the fan tail).

I'm going to look at other Tern varieties, they could definitely be some version of a Tern....
 
   / Bird identification #17  
Sendero,

Did you get any further with the bird i.d. this weekend?
 
   / Bird identification #18  
Sendero,

Did you get any further with the bird i.d. this weekend?
 
   / Bird identification
  • Thread Starter
#19  
Well, it's been a couple weeks now. Last weekend, I saw them but they were in the trees and sitting on the fence, not near/feeding from the pond. Yesterday - they were gone, I didn't see any of them.

I've focused on the Terns in all of our books. They do look similar to a Black Tern, except nobody talks about that striking white stripe at the end of their fan tail. And most Terns have a forked style tail, these were classic fan shapes, but the black Tern's tail is the least "forked" of the bunch.

But, in reading about the Terns it's clear that their coloration varies throughout the season. I'm thinking they are Terns, but I'm not 100% sure.

This weekend we saw a flock of 4 birds that look like some kind of hawk or related bird. We've never seen them before. That's our next mystery /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
   / Bird identification
  • Thread Starter
#20  
Well, it's been a couple weeks now. Last weekend, I saw them but they were in the trees and sitting on the fence, not near/feeding from the pond. Yesterday - they were gone, I didn't see any of them.

I've focused on the Terns in all of our books. They do look similar to a Black Tern, except nobody talks about that striking white stripe at the end of their fan tail. And most Terns have a forked style tail, these were classic fan shapes, but the black Tern's tail is the least "forked" of the bunch.

But, in reading about the Terns it's clear that their coloration varies throughout the season. I'm thinking they are Terns, but I'm not 100% sure.

This weekend we saw a flock of 4 birds that look like some kind of hawk or related bird. We've never seen them before. That's our next mystery /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

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