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Posted by Justin Miller on 23:00:36 10/09/12
During the stormfront bird invasion in my yard Saturday, I was in my pool when all the birds arrived, and while I could identify most of them, this one in particular I couldn't figure out, and trying to look it up in various online guides hasn't gotten me an ID.
The photo is terrible - I only had a mirrorless camera and 210mm lens at poolside, and it was overcast and I was shooting from at least 60-80 feet...this is a mega-crop and the only shot I got of the bird.
It was all white, grey, or black...no colors at all were noticeable. The feet and legs were distinctly pink and pale, rather than black. The bird was around the size of a small warbler - larger than the gnatcatcher. There looked to be small white markings on the outer wing, and it looked to have some kind of black masking on the face over or around the eyes. Underbelly was predominantly white, front chest possibly with some minor banding or blackish mixed in. The uppers were all grey and into the head. The tail was short and mostly grey uppers with white under. It was extremely fast in flight. I suspected maybe loggerhead shrike, but the pink legs threw me, and the tail looked shorter (unless it is somehow obscured by the leaves), and I didn't remember any strong black to the wings or tail...possibly juvenile?
Any ID help appreciated.
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