Bird identification

[sendero]

This afternoon we were sitting down to eat and I noticed a flock of several birds diving into the pond. We put our food back in the oven and went out to take a look.

There were about a dozen. They were about the size of a youngish dove, and all gray black and white. They would dive into the water like they were going for a minnow or bug or something, but they got plenty wet, not a case of just touch and go on the surface.

They had black heads, a gray body a big fanned out V tail with a white band at the end. The underside/breast was a light gray. One made a call that I'd say reminded me of a Killdeer, but these were not Killdeer.

We've pored over our bird books and we are absolutely stumped. I suspect these are not "Texas" birds, but something headed north.

Anyone have any ideas what they could be?

 

[beenthere]

Try the kingfisher.

There is one for TX too.

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3900id.html

 

[EddieWalker]

sendero,

My girlfriend has become an obsessive bird watcher and has found a great website for identifying birds.

www.whatbird.com

They have a search tool that you start putting in what you saw and narrow it down.

It lists eleven differnt catagories that you chose one at a time until you find what your looking for. We start with Texas, than color and size or shape. By then we've got it down to a dozen possiblities and can figure it out from the pictures shown.

It's a great site that even plays the different calls the birds make!!! Loads of fun. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[Tom_H]

Most likely a kingfisher.

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, tsk, tsk, tsk. I would think that if Steph is as serious about birds as you say, that you would know that the term "bird watcher" is anathema /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Those who are truly </font><font color="blue" class="small">( obsessed)</font> refer to themselves as <font color="green"> birders </font>. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

It's like calling the steering wheel a "circle". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

Tom,

Thank you for the clarification. We spent two hours down at the lake site yesterday watching the birds. Yes, she's obsessed and as of now, she's a "birder!" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The reason I know of www.whatbird.com is that she saw an all red songbird, but with no crown and a grey bill. I saw that it was red, but she had my optics, so all I saw was the color.

It's not a Tanager of any kind, definiately not a cardnal and we've run out of ideas.

She did see her first Red Shouldered Hawk and a Lesser Blue Heron, so that makes it a good day. Two new birds to add to her list.

We've also gone from two bird feeders to 7 in the last couple weeks. Ever since she shot that hog, she's realy getting into nature and what's out here!!!

I'm starting to worry that she might see this thread and want to go see what's at Sendero's place!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[sendero]

Eddie, thanks for the suggestion. I have not had any luck with it so for, I will try again, or let the better half give it a shot.

Neither my wife or I are big-time "birders" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif we just enjoy all of the diversity of nature (and there are a lot of birds out there you will never see in Dallas) and it frosts me when I see something like those dive-bombing-pond-feeders and I don't know what they are called! Same with a tree - so far I think I know every tree on my place - but a couple of the scarcer ones have been a challenge to identify.

Anyway, it is fun to see something, be it a bird or a snake or a wildflower, that you've never seen before. But I need the name darnit!!!

Thanks for the site, and you and your wife can come out here and look for birds any time. Probably the coolest thing we've seen is a painted bunting - the males are as colorful as a parrot, and there are several Chuck Will's Widows (they will keep you awake at night) that we've heard but never seen /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BamaRob]

I agree with beenthere. Sounds like a belted kingfisher.

BR

 

[sendero]

Actually, we have a kingfisher couple that have lived at our pond for over a year. They make the most awful squawking/scolding noises, and are very distinctive in that they are quite blue (slate blue, but blue nonetheless).

The birds I saw had only black, white and gray - and were a bit smaller than the Kingfisher. Also, the way they "fished", ie divebombing the pond in a near vertical descent, is nothing like the Kingfisher's more horizontal approach. Nor was their "call". /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I appreciate the idea, but as far as I can tell, all Kingfishers are predominately slate blue in color.

 

[Birdman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I appreciate the idea, but as far as I can tell, all Kingfishers are predominately slate blue in color. )</font>

According to my Audubon bird book.... The Belted Kingfisher is black and white, while the Ringed Kingfisher is slate blue and white with a red breast. There is also a Green Kingfisher that is black and white with a red breast, it is much smaller than the other 2 at only around 8 inches. All 3 are native to Texas.

 

[BamaRob]

Interesting. When you get them identified, let us know.

BR