Bird identification involves constant self-tutoring. The tutor describes a bird he saw, and attempts to identify it.

Yesterday’s sunny afternoon, I noticed something odd from the corner of my eye. I had no idea what it would be, just that it was different. I looked outside.

On the fence was a bird whose posture surprised me. I didn’t have my glasses, so quickly got them; the bird was still there. I didn’t recognize it.

The bird’s size was similar to a robin’s, but it didn’t stand like a robin. Its back was solid reddish brown, which petered into spots around whitish breast. I think it had a black collar. It had a white throat, some yellow (I think) near the eye, and a black circle below and behind its eye. Where the head wasn’t black, it was white or yellow.

A couple of times it flew to the lawn, then returned to the fence.

The birds I can find that look most like the one I saw: a juvenile robin or a horned lark. Conveniently, an adult male robin landed about six feet away on the same fence; it was the same size as the bird I’m describing. I don’t believe a juvenile robin, at this time of year, would be equal in size to an adult.

I heard the bird’s voice; it was producing single notes, around 10-15 seconds apart. That could be a horned lark or a robin.

I’ve read that horned larks aren’t necessarily known to breed here, but I’d say that’s what the bird was.

Source:

www.allaboutbirds.org

www.crd.bc.ca

www.allaboutbirds.org

Robbins, Bruun, et al. Birds of North America: a guide to field identification. New York: Golden Press, 1966.