Posted by Donna Blain (152.163.213.52) on October 23, 2000 at 15:58:49:
Well, I admit it, I've been lurking. Time to turn in my vote, I suppose.
I will have to jump on the bandwagon with the Hutton's Vireo for that gray little bird on the left. That bill, the eye ring that is split on top...the color is off for the breast, but they say the southwestern ones are grayer than those further north. I'm a Yankee, though, so I'm depending on the books on that one. New England doesn't provide us with many Hutton's. I do have to admit, though, that a wren (of any kind), just feels wrong to me. That bill looks to small, strange angle that it is, but I have to stick with my gut on that one.
As for that lovely shorebird photo...I agree, it looks like a Pectoral Sandpiper. I really gave it a good, long look, as the legs at first appeared black, and I really stalled on it at first because of that, but I will assume that is a shadow darkening the legs a bit.
The long, bi-colored bill, heavy belly, breast streaking, rufous cheek and cap... yep, this smells like a Pectoral Sandpiper. However, for a minute I stammered and thought the one on the left had a supercilium that broadened behind the eye (what? Could it be? A Sharp-tailed?) But no, the one on the right looks pretty straight and even, so I'll stick with my heart. Pectoral.
So ... I cast my votes: Hutton's Vireo and Pectoral Sandpiper.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Fun site, by the way. This one goes in my favorites.
Donna