Bird Identification - Ask Extension
I have this bird visiting my bird feeder and I'm not sure what it is? maybe a Western Blue Bird? the colors are just so different. Thanks!
Knowledgebase
Bird Identification #822424
Asked March 14, 2023, 3:15 PM EDT
I have this bird visiting my bird feeder and I'm not sure what it is? maybe a Western Blue Bird? the colors are just so different. Thanks!
Clatsop County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello Steve,
Thank you for sharing your photos of this mystery bird with us. This is quite a sighting! As someone who grew up in the Midwest where this species is a common nesting bird, I did a double-take to make sure I was making the correct identification. The bird you had/have at your feeder is an Indigo Bunting, more specifically, a non-breeding male, based on the dull gray feathers mixed with the deep indigo blue feathers. They aren't typically found on the west coast.
According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds profile of the Indigo Bunting, it's normal nesting range extends north into Maine and west into the Dakotas and southern Canada, and west as far as southern Nevada and southeastern California, and south into Texas, Florida and northern Mexico. They are long-range Neotropical Migrants, flying as far as 1200 miles from their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America and just into South America.
On occasion, though, some of these Neotropical Migrant bird species will drift off course and end up outside of their normal range. It seems this is what occurred with the bird you saw at your feeder. According to Cornell's eBird data (the volunteer-driven bird sighting database), sightings have been seen in Clatsop County. If you go back to the same link as above, you can switch from the Range Map view to the "Sightings Map" view (link is just above the map), which will show you shaded areas where the Indigo Bunting has been observed. If you wish to record this into eBird, you can set up an account at https://ebird.org/. There will be many bird enthusiasts who would be interested in knowing of your sighting. Having photos is also a valuable help.
Lastly, the Oregon Birding Association is a local organization that, if you are interested, can be contacted about your bird sighting. Just go to this page and click on "Click Here to Report a Rare Bird". This will take you to a short form that you can fill out, including a contact person to send your photos to.
I hope this helps. Thank you again for contacting OSU Extension Service with your amazing sighting!
Thank you for sharing your photos of this mystery bird with us. This is quite a sighting! As someone who grew up in the Midwest where this species is a common nesting bird, I did a double-take to make sure I was making the correct identification. The bird you had/have at your feeder is an Indigo Bunting, more specifically, a non-breeding male, based on the dull gray feathers mixed with the deep indigo blue feathers. They aren't typically found on the west coast.
According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds profile of the Indigo Bunting, it's normal nesting range extends north into Maine and west into the Dakotas and southern Canada, and west as far as southern Nevada and southeastern California, and south into Texas, Florida and northern Mexico. They are long-range Neotropical Migrants, flying as far as 1200 miles from their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America and just into South America.
On occasion, though, some of these Neotropical Migrant bird species will drift off course and end up outside of their normal range. It seems this is what occurred with the bird you saw at your feeder. According to Cornell's eBird data (the volunteer-driven bird sighting database), sightings have been seen in Clatsop County. If you go back to the same link as above, you can switch from the Range Map view to the "Sightings Map" view (link is just above the map), which will show you shaded areas where the Indigo Bunting has been observed. If you wish to record this into eBird, you can set up an account at https://ebird.org/. There will be many bird enthusiasts who would be interested in knowing of your sighting. Having photos is also a valuable help.
Lastly, the Oregon Birding Association is a local organization that, if you are interested, can be contacted about your bird sighting. Just go to this page and click on "Click Here to Report a Rare Bird". This will take you to a short form that you can fill out, including a contact person to send your photos to.
I hope this helps. Thank you again for contacting OSU Extension Service with your amazing sighting!
