Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: jart on September 09, 2009, 11:13:18 AM

Title: Mystery Bird in the Beaches
Post by: jart on September 09, 2009, 11:13:18 AM: We were on the back deck in Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood last Sunday and I was snapping photos of the particularly interesting cloud formations above us. Later I noticed that one of the frames had an image of a flying bird on it. The photo was taken at 7:21 PM on Sunday Sept. 6th.
It's hard to judge the size of the bird since I didn't actually see it as it flew over. I'm thinking maybe crow-size. The blowup (2nd image) shows a coloured patch which I took to be plumage but which my son says may be legs. Any ideas of what this bird might be?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14955511@N ... 7/sizes/o/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14955511@N06/3895880567/sizes/o/)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14955511@N ... 4/sizes/o/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14955511@N06/3904027414/sizes/o/)
Title:
Post by: Iain on September 09, 2009, 10:58:55 PM: My immediate impression was Blue Jay given the wing and tail shape and I'm fairly confident in that. However it could be many things. I have a feeling the 'colour patch' you're talking about in the blow-up is white rather than yellow and we're just seeing colour distortion. Other options include Sharp-shinned Hawk or Grackle. If I had to choose I'd say Blue Jay.

Iain
Title:
Post by: DrNik on September 10, 2009, 07:29:36 PM: Hmmm, I'd have to say not a blue jay, since this thing is clearly all black/dark in colour. But the rounded wings do suggest some sort of forest dweller. Maybe an escaped exotic?
Title:
Post by: thouc on September 11, 2009, 11:17:55 PM: I agree with Blue Jay. When I first saw the picture I really didn't have a clue, but the other day I saw a Blue Jay flying above and it looked exactly like that. Against the blue sky it looks dark.

/Thomas
Title: Lord god bird
Post by: David Shilman on September 15, 2009, 07:50:48 PM: Ivory-billed Woodpecker?

:shock:

8)