What Bird (no pic)

[Finns]

What bird might I have seen at the sunflower feeder? Black head, red throat, white breast, black wings. Couldn't see the rest of the body as it flew away. Locale is about 2 miles from Missouri River here in St. Joseph, Mo.

Got rid of a bunch of cats last week and birds seem to feel safe to come around.

Tried to look it up on the net but got a headache from all the possibilities (that didn't match).

Thanks in advance.

[panthrcat]

ok gonna take a stab at this one,, a downy woodpecker? or a yellow bellied sapsucker? <-- I was amazed that this bird wasn't yellow,, he looks alot like the downy woodpecker.

[Jim Uran]

Rose breasted gross beak?!?!?!

[panthrcat]

Rose breasted gross beak?!?!?!

but he said it had a white breast

[Finns]

Leechbait hit it!!! First time I've seen this one! Saw it again just now and it has the white splotches on the wings that I didn't see before.

Thanks for the help on a new find for me.

[Jim Uran]

Beautiful birds, I haven't seen any up in my area yet this spring, but I had a few frequently hit the feeder last year around this time, maybe a little later!!

[panthrcat]

~Sue slithers under the door~ humiliated

[Nymph]

Here is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak that showed up yesterday at the feeder.

[Jim Uran]

~Sue slithers under the door~ humiliated

Nothing to be humiliated by but I think everyone knows a woodpecker when they see one, that's why I GUESSED with the grossbeak. Well soon enough they'll be up my way. I haven't seen anything yet except the purple finches!!!

[Steve Foss]

~Sue slithers under the door~ humiliated

Sue, that gave me a chuckle. Bird ID long distance from a written description ain't the easiest thing.

[MN Shutterbug]

Originally Posted By: leechbait

Rose breasted gross beak?!?!?!

but he said it had a white breast

Their beaks aren't gross either.

[Jim Uran]

OOPS!! Grosbeak!!!!

[Finns]

Wife still wonders where the red belly is on a Red Bellied Woodpecker .

[panthrcat]

ah well , my stab in the dark from a far away place failed,, lol I am only just beginning to id birds myself,, so no worries! I learned something from this post!!!

[eyeguy 54]

Wife still wonders where the red belly is on a Red Bellied Woodpecker .

LOL, I've wondered that myself! We have a huge catelpa tree and as soon as it starts to bud the grosbeaks will be here so I hope to get some pics soon. they bud late.