On my way into the office this morning, I noticed a woman looking under a table outside the University library. She was watching this bird. The poor thing obviously didn't belong in downtown Baltimore and appeared to be injured and disoriented (the bird, not the woman). Another woman came out and told the first that she had called the police, who were going to contact animal control. It looks like it has eye problems, too. I'm guessing it's some sort of sandpiper and maybe got lost during migration, I just can't find a definitive ID on it.
That would be the fattest sandpiper I have ever seen...
Sandpipers also have webbed feet or toes.
That's what I said... what was weird to me was the Grouse tail. It's like a Grouse got it on with a Sandpiper... I'm pretty sure I'm right with my Woodcock guess above. Cool little birds it seems. They seem to have mating rituals like the Grouse even.
That would be the fattest sandpiper I have ever seen...
Sandpipers also have webbed feet or toes.
That's what I said... what was weird to me was the Grouse tail. It's like a Grouse got it on with a Sandpiper... I'm pretty sure I'm right with my Woodcock guess above. Cool little birds it seems. They seem to have mating rituals like the Grouse even.
I also noticed the grouse-like tail but gone thrown by the front end and never really looked at the feet...not exactly living in a coastal area! Hope a local wildlife/bird sanctuary is able to help it with its eyes. Could have become disoriented somehow and smacked into a building. Hope it can be saved.
Nope. I say this mainly because the stripes on the head go the wrong way, but also the beak seems way too long (that could be a juvenile thing though, perhaps). The colorings are also off, both on feathers and feet. The Wilson's Snipe has "yellow-green" feet, whereas Larry's bird here clearly has pinkish-grey feet.
Nope. I say this mainly because the stripes on the head go the wrong way, but also the beak seems way too long (that could be a juvenile thing though, perhaps). The colorings are also off, both on feathers and feet. The Wilson's Snipe has "yellow-green" feet, whereas Larry's bird here clearly has pinkish-grey feet.
The bird could be a woodcock. But, the markings and coloration are not quite right for that bird either. And, a woodcock would be more rare than a snipe in the territory mentioned. Markings and coloration do vary by sex and levels of maturity. In bird identification, it's never wise to say you absolutely know the species. I've been humbled many times.
I saw another (maybe the same) woodcock outside the library today. It wasn't pretty.
edit - now the more I look, is that the same kind of bird?
Poor thing... Looks like the same kind, but probably not the same exact bird. Maybe this is a female? The other guy didn't look so hot either. What in the area is killin' your tweeters??
