UFD: The Only Unabashed Bird on Mount St. Helens

I know. I have an inbox full of UFDs from other parts of the country, even the world, some of which may pose an actual challenge, and here I am posting yet another Pacific Northwest UFD that you’ll probably have identified within, like, 30 seconds.

UFD I

Thing is, it’s the only damned bird I photographed at Mount St. Helens. I think I know what it is, but I’m not positive. And it’s a denizen of Mount St. Helens, which sort of fits the theme we’ve had going on for a while.

You have no idea how excited I was when I saw this little bugger perched on a lamp post at Johnston Ridge Observatory. I’d just spent the majority of two days hearing birds everywhere. Nearly every stop, on every hike, birds burbling in the trees, rustling round in bushes, letting me know they were there and weren’t about to pose. On the hummocks trail, some absolutely adorable fluffy golden ones were busily flitting here and there, tweeting madly, and I actually saw them – behind enough branches to confound my camera. I was desperate. And then, at very nearly the last minute – a bird! A bird not flying away!!

UFD II

So it’s probably a common species. We’ve possibly even identified it before. It’s not the greatest set of shots in the world. But it’s mine, my only MSH bird, and I loves it. Hopefully, so do you. If not, there will be more and better birds along shortly.

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UFD: The Only Unabashed Bird on Mount St. Helens
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18 thoughts on “UFD: The Only Unabashed Bird on Mount St. Helens

  1. rq
    4

    Definitely not a pi(d)geon, in my opinion… Something like a swift (fork-tailed?) or a swallow, judging from the head shape and the short beak. But it’s hard to tell. Gah. I’m going to wait until other people have solid guesses and then I’ll look into the options. :)

  2. 6

    My guess is an Oregon Junco (I know most Juncos have now been lumped together) but if you have an old Birds of North America that is where you will find it).
    It is sitting on a pole light fixture.

  3. 7

    I thought swallow initially too, but I’m now also leaning towards dark-eyed/Oregon junco. I can’t think of anything else with a short pink bill and dark grey head and breast.

  4. 11

    While I have no input re bird identification, I have to say the condition of the lamp is disappointing. It appears that the glass was merely attached with adhesive, rather than with more secure fasteners. Wasn’t there a funding problem with the MSH monument (as with most Park Service sites)?

  5. rq
    15

    But barn swallows aren’t black and white. Which is why I thought fork-tailed swift, which is related but not as colourful, but the colouring pattern on that doesn’t seem quite right, either.
    Dana, this is a tough one!!

  6. 16

    The head and bill look like a Dark eyed junco although the margin of the hood and the breast aren’t quite right. That and the dark mottling on the breast could be caused by the bird going through a molt?

  7. rq
    17

    A molt at this time of year? Seems a bit late, even for juvenile -> adult… Then again, I judge these things by east coast standards, the moulting patterns of birds in the northwest (never mind mountainous areas) is foreign to me.

  8. 18

    Do swifts perch like that? I know chimney swifts cannot which is why they hang out in chimneys. I cast my vote with the Junco contingent. A juvenile in molt probably.

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