Yesterday I saw a bird I could not identify. This is not unusual because there are few birds that I can identify. However, this particular bird had an impressive hairdo. Is that a crown? A crest? What do you call a flourish of feathers on a bird’s head?
Anyway, it was not only a visually impressive bird, it was also loud. As I was walking home from the grocery store this glorious bird squawked its way around a nearby building and then perched on the rail of a second-floor apartment. I tried to get its photo but it was too far away and in silhouette, so I watched as it surveyed the surroundings and then flew off into the pond.
In the mean time, two ladies stopped to watch me and appeared bewildered. They didn’t know what I was seeing, and wondered why I was trying to photograph strangers’ balconies.
When I got home I tried to find out what I had seen, and the closest I could identify was a Stellar’s Jay, but that didn’t sit right with me. The impressive headwear was similar, but the bird wasn’t the same shape as the one I had seen.
Then, this evening, I heard a familiar squawk. I wasn’t sure if it was a bird or a racoon (clearly, I am not destined to be a birder) so I used my phone’s Merlin app to record the sound and, hopefully, identify it.
Sure enough, it was a bird and it was not just a bird, it was a Belted Kingfisher!! As soon as the identification appeared alongside a tiny thumbnail picture, I knew I had my bird. It was the same bird I had seen the day before. Woo hoo!
I have a Belted Kingfisher as a neighbour, and I could not be happier.
Snowbird of Paradise 
That’s quite the hairdo. Also, a pretty impressive beak!
I think its the avian version of a punk kid.
You’re right, it is!
Pretty bird
I think so, too.
So nice you could identify it! I enjoy identifying birds, but challenged. I tried to identify a hawk on our back fence last week, but only narrowed it down to three choices.
Actually, narrowing it down to three choices is pretty darned good! I don’t think I would have identified the kingfisher without the Merlin app for bird sounds. I also have a couple of bird books that I use occasionally.
I Googled some hawk images to help me. I enjoy the Merlin app when I’m outside and can record the birdsong. I’m not as proficient with entering the bird characteristics into the app. Maybe I’ll give it a try, though!
I haven’t entered any characteristics. I just match up the sound and the picture and click on “That’s my bird!” 🙂
Gothca. I didn’t have the sound for this particular hawk. I forgot about the picture ID part on the Merlin app. I just used it with my not-so-stellar picture, and I think I have it! A Cooper’s hawk! I find hawks fascinating, but I found out Cooper’s Hawks love to shop for backyard songbirds, unfortunately.
Oh, wow. Well done! Sorry about the songbirds, though. I went on a walk with a local bird expert looking for raptors last year. They are the bird version of raccoons in that they will eat pretty much anything.
Oh, I hadn’t heard that; interesting!
The kingfishers are so lovely!
Absolutely! And a new sight for me.