The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

Describe what you saw. We’ll narrow the field together.

Question 8 5 possible birds

What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?

Choose the answer that comes closest to what you observed.

Light outer edge or corners Light band across the middle Light band at the tip Dark and light bands across it Broad dark band across the tip None Unknown

Not completely sure? Choose Unknown when it is available—a careful “I don’t know” is more useful than a guess.

Your observation 7 answers recorded · open to review or change
  1. 1
    What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    Change
  2. 2
    What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    Change
  3. 3
    What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    Change
  4. 4
    What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored)
    Change
  5. 5
    What SHAPE was the TAIL ? Rounded at the end
    Change
  6. 6
    What type of environment was the bird seen in? Urban or residential area or at a feeder
    Change
  7. 7
    What colour was the BREAST ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    Change

Leading possibilities

5 possibilities remain

3 rules inferred
  1. 1

    Snow Bunting

    Matching variants: Female, Nonbreeding Male

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored)
    • What type of environment was the bird seen in? Urban or residential area or at a feeder
    • What colour was the BREAST ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile
  2. 2

    Rufous-crowned Sparrow

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored)
    • What SHAPE was the TAIL ? Rounded at the end
    • What colour was the BREAST ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile
  3. 3

    White-crowned Sparrow

    Why this matches 5 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What SHAPE was the TAIL ? Rounded at the end
    • What colour was the BREAST ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile
  4. 4

    Clay-colored Sparrow

    Why this matches 5 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What SHAPE was the TAIL ? Rounded at the end
    • What colour was the BREAST ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile
  5. 5

    Reed Bunting

    Why this matches 4 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored)
    • What colour was the BREAST ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile

Showing the strongest matches so far. Keep answering—the order may change.

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