Eric Lathrop @eric@mastodon.ericlathrop.com

White Wagtail, Ecopôle du val d'Allier, Pérignat-sur-Allier, France 🇫🇷 2022-05-02

They really do wag their tails!

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Black-headed Gull, Ecopôle du val d'Allier, Pérignat-sur-Allier, France 🇫🇷 2022-05-02

Finally going through my bird photos from my Europe trip! If my ID's are off, let me know as it's probably the first time I've seen many of these European birds.

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Female Red-bellied Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

You can actually see the red belly in this photo.

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American Robin, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

Harbinger of spring

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Downy Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

Another photo of the same Downy Woodpecker. That beak is huge! Those tail spots, though...

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Downy Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

Its beak is pretty large for a Downy, but the spots on the white tail feathers (more visible on other photos I took) rule out the possibility of it being a Hairy Woodpecker.

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Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

I'm anxiously awaiting their return this spring.

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Male Northern Cardinal in flight, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

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Male House Finch, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

Males have the reddish-purple coloring on their heads and backs.

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Male American Goldfinch, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

The males have the black forehead spot, and their yellow coloring is brighter than females.

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Female Downy Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

The two main ways I know to distinguish a Downy from a Hairy Woodpecker are:

1. Look for black spots on the outer white tail feathers. You can see these in the photo. Only Downy's have the spots. If spots are missing, it may be either species.

2. Look at the size of the bill. Imagine it rotating 180 degrees, and check if it would extend past the eye. If it would, then it's probably a Hairy Woodpecker.

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Mourning Doves, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

There's always a group of these in my backyard. They often line up in a row on one branch and chill quietly for a long time.

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Chipping Sparrow, Louisville Kentucky 2021-04-29

These don't usually eat at my feeders.

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Female Brown-headed Cowbird, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-04-25

Females have a chocolate-brown body, whereas males have a glossy black body. Both have a chocolate-brown head.

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Field Sparrow, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-04-25

Eating some seeds off a tree.

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Female Downy Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-04-18

In this photo you can see how it uses its stiff tail feathers as a third leg to support itself.

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Red-tailed Hawk, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-04-18

Ah, to soar above the clouds!

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Female American Goldfinch, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-04-18

In dull winter plumage. Males have a black forehead patch, which females lack.

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-04-18

These tiny birds are constantly on the move and really hard to get a photo of.

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Yellow-rumped Warbler, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-04-04

They also have yellow armpits.

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