[Birdtalk] red bird

[Kristin Purdy]

Rosemary,

Welcome to the list. It's always great to see posts from new birders and 
watch your enthusiasm for birding grow. I'm certainly interested in what you 
see at the Legacy Nature Preserve because the habitat is improving there and 
birders aren't very familiar with the place.

I wonder if your mystery bird could have been a strongly marked male House 
Finch. They come in different shades from gold to orange-pink to deep rose 
on the body with grayish-brown wings. The body color becomes more pronounced 
as winter marches to spring. Brilliant light on the bird would emphasize the 
color, too.

Here are some images from local photographers posted in the Utah Birds photo 
gallery:

http://www.utahbirds.org/birdsofutah/BirdsD-K/HouseFinch.htm

Kris
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rosemary Fasselin
  To: Birdtalk at utahbirds.org
  Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:19 AM
  Subject: [Birdtalk] red bird


  I am brand new to birding (don't even have a guide yet) and I'm so happy 
to have found this mailing list!  Anyways, I do some work on the Legacy 
Nature Preserve (west of Legacy Parkway) and yesterday I saw a huge barn owl 
fly away from my working companions, 2 red tailed hawks and 2 bald eagles 
who were sitting around for hours.  I also saw a small red bird perched on a 
willow stem by the river.  I've never seen anything like it -- the sun was 
hitting him and he looked almost neon.  I think he had gray or black wings, 
but the rest of him was bright red.  Can anyone help me identify him? 
Sorry, but I didn't have my camera with me.


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