Indigo Bunting?

[Julie Brown]

Indigo Bunting or Blue Grosbeak? What about the white on the breast? I have been seeing a lot of these birds at a local park, and am having trouble distinguishing the field marks. This is a poor image, but I hope there is enough detail to make the ID.

Thanks!

[Dan Brown]

Looks like a Blue Grosbeak to me. The wing bars, bill shape are my reasons for this ID and although the images is not so good, the black face also . Looks like a male in the late stages of moulting, explaining the light patch on the belly or thigh.

[Julie Brown]

Thanks Dan!

I didn't think about molting-have not seen that mentioned in any of my field guides. Is that a transition from breeding plumage? Here is another image that I have been calling an Indigo Bunting. Is this a grosbeak as well?

[Dan Brown]

Hi Julie, I think that this second image is of an Indigo Bunting, the lack of prominent wingbars and the bill shape are the clues.

[Julie Brown]

Thanks again! Here is another view...

[Dan Brown]

Indigo. No black face and for Male Blue Grosbeak, we would see a rusty wingbar or shoulder area, which this bird lacks.

[Chris Sloan]

I'm not convinced the first bird isn't also an Indigo. The greater coverts seem to be coming in with Blue edges and tips, which would be inconsistent with a Blue Grosbeak. The bill shape is potentially misleading here due to the odd angle of the bird and the head and bill.

[James Prudente]

First bird is a Blue Grosbeak and the others are Indigo Bunting.

Jim

[Chris Sloan]

So how do you explain the blue greater coverts in the first bird?

[James Prudente]

This bird is in molt and the rufous wing bars are badly worn leaving only the blue of the coverts visible.