Nature Done Wright

    This mystery bird (above), which comes by way of a birder in Dumont, has challenged some of the state's birders, as well as the indefatigible Seymour Drakes.

The birder writes:

    "Could you
identify this bird for me?  This picture was just taken a few days
ago (January 3-4ish). 

   "He lives in the Hemlock tree in my neighbor's yard and came down to
eat the walnuts that I threw outside.

   "I thought this might be a Pine
Warbler but the reddish areas are throwing me off."

   She has included a measure of the bricks so you can see its size — and a photo of Mr. E. Bird with a sparrow for comparison's sake.

   Click "Continue reading…" for more photos, and what the thinking on this bird is…

  Several top birders have seen the photos of the bird (but not the size comparison photos) hand think the bird is a female or immature male Summer Tanager.  If true, this would be only the third winter record for a Summer Tanager in New Jersey.

   The birder, however, says the bird appears to be no larger than a sparrow.

   I have asked her to call me if this bird appears again so I can photograph it.

   Other input most welcome!

   More on Summer Tanagers here.

  More on mystery birds here.