Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Bird Brain on February 22, 2012, 01:22:37 PM

Title: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: Bird Brain on February 22, 2012, 01:22:37 PM

Hi everyone.  This morning at 10am, bumped into Bob (rcflier) so we walked around Lake Aquitaine 2x until 12pm.  Sighted the following:

Blue Jays
Canada Geese
Cardinals
Chickadees
Crows
Gulls, mainly Ring-billed
House Sparrows
Mallards
Mockingbird x 2
Robins

Bob sighted the "mystery bird" - small and grey, every birder's bane!   :shock:
Description:  Small, approx. 5", light grey, very distinct forked tail, slight head tuft - or was that just the 54 km/hr. wind gusts?!, single white bar on wings, dark beak.  Any ideas on this one?

Lake Aquitaine:  SE corner of Glen Erin Dr./Aquitaine Ave., behind the Meadowvale Community Centre.

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: newfoundlander61 on February 22, 2012, 01:47:11 PM

Have a look at some images of a Tufted Titmouse on google ans see if its your bird. Size matches as well as Head Tuft.

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: thouc on February 22, 2012, 02:39:12 PM

Could it have been an Am. Goldfinch? They are pretty dull looking in winter and have wing bar and forked tail, no tuft though.

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: Reuven_M on February 22, 2012, 02:48:14 PM

A goldfinch is the only thing I can think of

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: Bird Brain on February 23, 2012, 09:04:56 AM

Hi guys.  Thanks for the suggestions!  

Reuven and thouc ... I've sighted lots of female Goldfinches before and this wasn't a match.

Paul ... took a look at Google Images and seems to be a great match for Tufted Titmouse but I still can't say Yes 100%.  Wouldn't be able to check this one off on a bird count sheet either.  

Unfortunately, I don't have a camera.   :|

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: cloaca on February 23, 2012, 11:53:27 AM

Tufted Titmouse lacks two of the five characters you noted: a distinctly forked tail and white wing bar.

There are some really drab goldfinches out there:  http://www.ratherbephotog.com/birds/fin ... AMGO02.jpg (http://www.ratherbephotog.com/birds/finches/012910AMGO02.jpg)

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: thouc on February 23, 2012, 01:11:50 PM

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet could possibly fit the description if the bird was really small. Pretty rare in the winter, but not impossible.

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: rcflier on February 23, 2012, 02:29:49 PM

I would like to suggest an Olive Sided Flycatcher.  The tail features of the flycatcher are definitely what we saw in this specimen.

Title: Re: Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
Post by: Bluffs Birder on February 23, 2012, 03:39:31 PM

Hi Bob,

Unfortunately it wouldn't be a flycatcher at this time of year as there are no flies for it to eat.

Sorry I don't have a suggestion for you.

Happy Birding!
Walter