# Help me identify this bird
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 20, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410 "2006-04-20T02:08:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410/1 "2006-04-20T02:08:35Z")
While I was unlocking my bike this morning, I heard a bang on the window of the apartment above me, then an object fell into the bush beside me. I thought someone had thrown something, but it turned out to be a little bird. I picked it up to see if it was ok, but it had broken its neck and died instantly.
I can’t remember seeing this bird around here (Waterloo, Ontario) before. We have a plethora of house sparrows, black-capped chickadees, American robins, blue jays, grackles, mourning doves, cardinals, finches and the occasional oriole, but this bird’s markings are unfamiliar to me. I tried doing a search on the common birds of the region, but no luck.
I took some photos of it:
[Pic 1](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/MachTurtle/Bird4.jpg)
[Pic 2](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/MachTurtle/Bird3.jpg)
[Pic 3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/MachTurtle/Bird2.jpg)
[Pic 4](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/MachTurtle/Bird1.jpg)
On one photo, its beak appears red but that’s actually blood. The beak itself is a dark brown. It’s not visible from the photos, but the tail feathers are kind of a burnt sienna shade. Also, there are three fine black whiskers on each side of the beak, at the corners of the mouth. I think the bird may be some kind of flycatcher but I could be wrong.
Anybody know what it is?
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### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410/2 "2006-04-20T02:12:11Z")
Oh, I should mention the size. It’s approximately the same size as am American robin.
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### Author:  [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410/3 "2006-04-20T02:12:34Z")
Any chance of a size reference? CAn you measure it, or photo it next to a ruler? Looks like one of the Thrushes, but I’d like to be sure of the size, first.
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### Author:  [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410/4 "2006-04-20T02:13:44Z")
Hermit Thrush.
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### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410/5 "2006-04-20T02:18:15Z")
> [@Fetchund](#):
>
> Hermit Thrush.
Checked against some online photos. That’s the one. Pretty little bird. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410/6 "2006-04-20T02:20:31Z")
My pleasure!
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### Author:  [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-bird/353410/7 "2006-04-20T04:10:55Z")
Perhaps a hooded merganser?
Opps. Wrong thread.
😃