What Bird Is That Forum

Oh noo, I missed the last one! I guess I was too busy and forgot. I don't have either species for this week...

Got the Cuckoo. no towhee

Actually my best shot of a Cuckoo, I usually only see them way back in the trees.
Ft Worth Nature Center 5-25


yellow Billed Cuckoo by johnd1964, on Flickr

I occasionally catch some Yellow-Billed Cuckoos on their way down south in November.

Nope, neither one of this week's birds is in my area. But I'll enjoy seeing everyone else's photos.

My only photo of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo


Green-tailed Towhee

Welcome to the end of May, Whatbirders.

Common Ground Dove

Northern Shrike

The guideline is only one photo per species per week, please. On those occasions when I name more than one species, you're welcome to post one photo of each species. Details and stories behind the photos are encouraged!

Taken on a bright winter day back in February, 2021.

Another old one from 2013

Untitled by lonestranger102, on Flickr

not a very good photo of the dove. Iv got one photo of a shrike , but its a Loggerhead.

Common Ground Dove St Marks NWR Florida 5-26-2014

Common Ground dove St Marks by johnd1964, on Flickr

Northern Shrike


Common Ground Dove

Peaceful Waters
Feb 27 2026


[Administrator's note: This is a Loggerhead Shrike in Florida, posted by mistake]

Common Ground Dove enjoying the beach in Florida panhandle

Marilynne wrote: Sun May 31, 2026 10:54 pm Peaceful Waters
Feb 27 2026

Where was that taken?

Are you sure it's a Northern and not a Loggerhead?

Nice shot, anyway.

No Dove & only terrible, long distance Shrike shots

Greyhawk wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 3:03 am

Marilynne wrote: Sun May 31, 2026 10:54 pm Peaceful Waters
Feb 27 2026

Where was that taken?

Are you sure it's a Northern and not a Loggerhead?

Yeah, that has a thicker mask than I would expect on Northern.

EDIT If that's Peaceful Waters near Palm Beach FL, Northern don't get that far south, even in February.

From the Village Creek Drying Beds Arlington Tx

This one is at Benson Valley State Park TX. Precisely 463.43 miles from where the shrike photo was taken.

Charlie Spencer wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 12:36 pm EDIT If that's Peaceful Waters near Palm Beach FL, Northern don't get that far south, even in February.

Lol...I didn't realize Peaceful Waters was a place name.

Yeah, that would be unprecedented for a Northern.

Kevin wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 12:59 pm From the Village Creek Drying Beds Arlington Tx

And it looks like Kevin saw a famous rarity that visited Arlington in 2021 and 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=jG_tFNdaBlo

Greyhawk wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 3:03 am

Marilynne wrote: Sun May 31, 2026 10:54 pm Peaceful Waters
Feb 27 2026

Where was that taken?

Are you sure it's a Northern and not a Loggerhead?

Nice shot, anyway.

Oops, you're correct - it a Loggerhead. I saw Shrike and nothing else. Please feel free to remove my post.

It was taken in Wellington FL.

Marilynne wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 3:02 pm

Oops, you're correct - it a Loggerhead. I saw Shrike and nothing else. Please feel free to remove my post.

It was taken in Wellington FL.

No worries.

I put a note in the original post clarifying. I'd rather leave it up if that's okay with you.

Greyhawk wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 4:43 pm I put a note in the original post clarifying. I'd rather leave it up if that's okay with you.

Agreed. It isn't the first mis-identified photo in the history of this thread, and it won't be the last. They're learning opportunities.

No Common Ground Dove for me, it is an extreme rarity in Washington state.


PA106363...Northern Shrike by lonesome55dove, on Flickr

I could have sworn I posted this yesterday... Not sure what happened!

Anyway, I have no Shrikes. I've seen a lot of Common Ground Doves and I thought I'd have photos but I only managed this one! I do have Blue Ground Doves, Maroon-Chested Ground Doves, Ruddy Ground Doves, and Inca Doves...

aveschapinas wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2026 4:07 pm Maroon-Chested Ground Dove

I'm more than a little jealous of that one!!! Probably one of my most wanted bird species in the world!

Aidan B wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2026 8:56 pm

aveschapinas wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2026 4:07 pm Maroon-Chested Ground Dove

I'm more than a little jealous of that one!!! Probably one of my most wanted bird species in the world!

I never thought I'd manage to see one; they are rare and usually well-hidden here, but a birding friend took me to get them - we saw a pair, our in the open and fully visible. Several years ago I was with someone, a very expert and daring birder, who climbed down a ravine I would never attempt and managed a glimpse of one. I heard the call but I figured finding it to see was going to be out to the question. If you ever come to Guatemala let me know and we'll see if we can get it for you!

Don't know what the deal is with the Shrikes. Found nothing labelled "Great Gray Shrike", which is what the Northern Shrike would have been called before 2017. Looked through lots and lots of Alaska slides knowing that any Shrike there would have to be (now) Northern. No luck. I give up.

Common Ground Dove
Concan, TX
6/17/84

aveschapinas wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2026 4:07 pm I do have ... Inca Doves...

Oddly, the Random Bird Selector kicked out Inca Dove this morning, but I decided against doves on consecutive weeks.

Bering Birder wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2026 12:42 am I give up.

I'm not sure but that may be a first for the BB archives.

Good morning, Whatbirders! The Random Bird Selector repeatedly chose birds at the beginning of the taxonomy this morning, and most of those were either uncommon or had restricted ranges. It finally kicked out a couple I hope people will have.

Western Sandpiper

Eared Grebe

The guideline is only one photo per species per week, please. On those occasions when I name more than one species, you're welcome to post one photo of each species. Details and stories behind the photos are encouraged!

Neither very common here so shots are limited.