I need bird identification help, please

[Carla in Ca]

I have just lately discovered some of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen. I have never been one to get out the binoculars before but they caught my eye and I was curious.

They are a striking color of yellow, have white and black wings and a marking of orange on their heads. The two larger ones are the size of a pigeon and they are in a bottle brush tree. They nibble at the red flowers but always from inside the dense tree so unless I catch them in flight, it is almost impossible to see the whole bird at one time.

I would love to know what this bird is if someone knows or direct me to a website. I tried a general search using the colors but most of the websites don't offer a lot of pictures.

My first thought is they were exotic pets but there are four of them and they seem very adapted to the area.

Hope someone can help. Thank You.

[amazona]

1. ideas

Go to enature.com and put in your zip code to do a search of birds of your area. One possibility is Hooded Oriole but when I tried to post a photo for you, then DU choked, so google a photo for yourself.

Another thing you can do is grab a photo -- even a BAD photo -- of the bird and post it here. I'm going out of town but when I return in June I can probably help you ID the bird from the photo. Even bad photos can carry a surprising amount of information.

On edit--photo doesn't need to be of the whole bird. Even the head would help get me a look at the beak and head shape.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[XemaSab]

2. Possibilities

Any of these the birds?

(If they're the last one, PM me!)

[amazona]

3. I used to have that T-shirt!

Of the Carolina Parakeet that is.

Great photo line-up, I hope it helps the Original Poster figure it out.

OK, I really must get going...back in June. I'll be looking forward to hearing all ya'll's bird sightings.

P.S. If not for the size given, the bird would be Western Tanager, wouldn't it?

[XemaSab]

4. Size....

will screw you up every time.

Also, "pigeon sized" could mean anything from Band-Tailed Pigeon to Inca Dove.

[Carla in Ca]

7. The first one is about right

but the 2 bigger birds had heads of full orange. Thanks for the help.

[XemaSab]

8. Any time

I enjoy bird puzzles, so if you have any more, please don't hesitate to ask.

[OnionPatch]

9. Western tanagers are common here and

their heads are fully orange as you describe, unlike that top photo. I've never seen one with such a small amount of orange as in that photo. Maybe that pic is of a juvenile? :shrug:

[livetohike]

5. I was thinking Western Tanager until you said the size

The Western Tanager is only 6" long or so...but otherwise, they fit the description.

[Carla in Ca]

6. I think you are correct

It is the closest to what I had been watching. They were always in a bottle brush tree, and I haven't seen them for about a week which also fits their migration description.
As for the size, these birds were not as small as a sparrow. The tree is across the street and you notice the size even without binoculars.
But all in all, I was just happy to witness such beauty.

Thank you one and all for your help.