Beginning birders are often confused with certain groups of birds. For that matter, advanced birders can be confused with certain groups of birds. Gulls, sparrows, and flycatchers — to name a few — have been known to exasperate even the most adept of experts. Entire books can, and have, been written on those subjects, and they are well beyond the scope of this article.
I will attempt to clear up a few of the ID problems that beginning birders will encounter in this area. These are all commonly occurring birds in this county, and with a little work these problems can be overcome.
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet vs. Hutton's Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
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This might be the most-asked question from beginning birders in this area. These two small, gray birds spend most of their time actively flitting around the tops of trees. Just getting a good look at them can be difficult.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
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In general, the vireo is a bulkier bird and tends to be a little sluggish in its actions compared to the kinglet, which often flicks its wings and is very active. These activity characteristics, though, are not to be relied on for identification. The vireo has a larger, hooked bill and more white around the eye and in the lores (the spot in front of the eye) giving it a spectacled look, compared to the fine pointed bill and delicate eyering of the kinglet.
Both birds have wingbars, and this is the most reliable distinction in the field. The Hutton's Vireo has two distinct wingbars, with a black patch between them. The kinglet also has two wingbars, but the forward one is much reduced, and sometimes even hard to see. The darkest part of the wing on the kinglet is to the rear of the larger wingbar.
Time of year can provide a clue to these two birds. The kinglet does not occur in this county during the summer. A "Ruby-crowned Kinglet" reported in June is, in all probability, a Hutton's Vireo.
Cooper's vs. Sharp-shinned Hawks
Cooper's Hawk
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These two small hawks of the genus Accipiter can be a thorny ID challenge. For one thing, they usually seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere, so your view often is of a quickly retreating, low-flying bird, that even some experts write it off as "one of the accipiters."
The classic distinction between the two is the end of the tail--straight-edged in the Sharp-shinned, and rounded in the Cooper's. (Think "C" shaped for Cooper's) As in every ID though, try not to rely on just one feature. The way the birds hold their tail, especially in windy conditions, can muddle the identification. Cooper's Hawks are generally bigger than the "Sharpies" but a large female Sharp-shinned can approach or even equal the size of a male Cooper's Hawk. Female raptors are bigger than their male counterparts.
Cooper's hawks have a much bigger head than do the sharp-shinned in relation to their body size, and the head on a Cooper's will protrude in front of the leading edge of the wing. The smaller head on the sharpie will look withdrawn and behind the leading edge of the wing.
Even if you can't identify them, to see them fly full speed through the middle of a dense shrub chasing some small bird is a sight to behold.
House Finch vs. Purple Finch
House Finch
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Purple Finch
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These two locally common members of the Carpodacus genus are often confused, and it's the females that are more easily separated in the field. Both are brownish birds, heavily streaked below. The face of the female Purple Finch shows a prominent white line over the eye, a darker cheek patch, and a whitish malar (or moustache) stripe. The plain face of the female House Finch lacks those distinguishing marks.
The red of the male purple is rosier and more widespread than the house, and the lower belly of the Purple Finch is plain whitish, while the male House Finch is streaked below.
Another member of the group, Cassin's Finch, occurs so rarely here that I will not confuse the subject with that bird.
Male House (l) and Purple Finches (r)
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As with any pursuit, it just takes practice. Watch these birds as long as you are able, keep reminding yourself of the field marks to watch for, and soon you'll have these down pat and will be able to start working on the primary projection of Emidonax flycatchers, or, heaven forbid, first year gull hybrids.
