ID Quiz - April 27, 2020

Let's walk through this one, because it could be tricky. An orange-ish and black bird in a tree immediately brings orioles to mind. There are two expected species at the location: Baltimore and Orchard. The dark tail and darker color of the body rule out Baltimore. So, is it an Orchard Oriole? Well, there are a few problems. Notice the white vent area (between tail and belly). The color on Orchard Oriole would continue into that area. Also, the pattern on the wing is wrong. And that bill doesn't look very oriole-like — it is more consistent with something like a sparrow. So, is there a sparrow that would match this general color pattern? Yes! Although the name doesn't have "sparrow" in it…

It's an Eastern Towhee!

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