Is This A Oriole?

[juneandbob]

Quick shots:) I will not be home until this afternoon.I think it is an oriole,but I do not know:D boBhttp://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1E1VLMCo6Y8Nsm80HIFO31Q3s4I_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1E1VLMCo6Y8Nsm80HIFO31Q3s4I)

[Chuck S.]

Bob, it's a Towhee. Great shot!

Chuck

[w7vp]

Looks more like a Rufus-sided towhee maybe?

[Chuck S.]

I think it's now referred to as the Spotted Towhee. They change them every once in a while to sell more bird guide books....!

[w7vp]

Chuck. You beat me to it. Had to look at Petersons first to be sure.

[Chuck S.]

Bill, I saw one this summer near Port Angeles, Washington. Pretty bird!

Chuck

[Skywriter]

It's a spotted towhee, for sure. They are year-round residents along most of the Pacific Coast. It has a little more white on the wing bars than the Eastern towhee we have here in my part of the world. They used to consider both of those the same species, called the rufous-sided towhee, as Bill said, but now have separated them. I agree with Chuck that I think they do that to sell more bird books.

[Skywriter]

Wonderful shot, Bob. Sorry that I got so wrapped up in the bird ID that I forgot to say it the first time.

[w7vp]

We have a lot of them around here. They live on the ground in the undergrowth near the edge of the grasssy areas and we see them a lot hopping over the grass. The have a very distinctive call.

[Chuck S.]

They love to shuffle around in the leaves on the ground, noisily moving the leaves aside to expose their potential meal. I found them by hearing that rustling of leaves. Their eastern relatives have the same behavior.

Chuck

[juneandbob]

chuck,bill,&skywriter. I have been edumacated.:) thanks alot. TOWHEE:D

[kroberts]

Great photo! We see an Eastern towhee in our yard a couple of times a year and yes, it is always digging and shuffling!

[juneandbob]

Hi kim. the birds are very active now. getting ready for the snow to fly. thanks for stopping by:) boB