I think birders should introduce a "felt bird ID", especially in this kind of weather.
"This is a White-throated Sparrow, felt species: McKay's Bunting."
I had quite a few felt McKay's today.
This whole "felt ID" could then be extended to, say, habitat:
Some of the American Tree Sparrows at the Arb for example have a rather annoying feel to them. A few of them always hang around a patch of high grass amongst a few pines. Grass amongst pines? Hello! Another felt Bachman's Sparrow anyone?
Despite the very cold wind it was good birding. I saw 4 species of Woodpecker, Hairy (which is quite nice), Downy, Red-bellied and a sparkling Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, very neat. Two remarkable things about the woodpeckers:
a) I am now only seeing male Red-bellieds, no females,
b) I think the Sapsucker really seems to link the Jynx-Wrynecks to the woodpeckers.
Other nice birds were Cardinals in bushes with snow, a lone Hermit Thrush, a Red-tailed and a Cooper's Hawk.
In Germany, we also have a few "felt species".
Like the Yellowhammer in winter. When the bird is facing you or you can see its head all is fine and it is easily identified as a Yellowhammer, shown on the picture below (from Germany in April 2005 and sadly not from today's trip to the Arb).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibklioA0Dve0iOIVxC-472QUH3yq7Cjsd3M2q5cWKCKSlGhPV8c7MFmN7s2GWHra1AaIX6hSDO46dXowydbaOnHvlH2-RbFtvOOYIV02b7kS5hI9pu5482gEfOte4GrVLhYhCqgWaUFALQ/s400/Pic03158.jpg)
However, the moment it turns it back on you, it feels suspiciously like a Pine Bunting from Siberia, a first degree national rarity in Germany.
The following image is of a female Yellowhammer from behind (again from Germany, April 2005):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL43jB1W4lZs4uUn5InF7f1GWVebsYO8lgM6qdGGxNKMvBkpkfQOBPhiLhEdz6wxH6-OGbxLttFujrulPkV4wjrr38hVmDoVe-o7XFx07NbvCY49t_JALISdKVhGOxQRlh4_Q-i-vqwmyv/s400/Pic03120.jpg)
And this here is a nice Pine Bunting observed in Finland (where also very rare).
You see? There's just no escaping the felt ID, and I can't wait to go for those felt wintering Prothonotary Warblers next weekend...
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