Need help with an ID

[RBuker]

I wish I had a picture but my sister just called asking about a bird that's been hanging around her feeder.

Here's how she describes it:

"Bright, almost flourescent solid copper color with the exception of an avacado green patch over it's eyes and cheeks. The size is similar or between a robin and a grackle. The tail if fairly long but not as long as a brown thrasher."

Can anyone offer up some help? I don't have a clue!

Thanks in advance

Randy

[Steve Foss]

Where does your sister live?

[RBuker]

Big Lake, Minnesota

[M.T. Bucket]

I'm not really picturing the fluorescent copper color very well. Any other way to describe it?

I could think of a number of possibilities, but brown-headed cowbird comes to mind? Maybe?

[Steve Foss]

I've been trying to come up with something likely and have drawn a blank. Like M.T., I can think of some things it MIGHT be, and the irridescent black birds such as rusty blackbird and grackle come to mind, because depending on the light, irridescence can produce colors like those you mentioned, but we just need more information.

[RBuker]

OK, she managed some poor quality pics last night. But, here they are and I'm still baffled?!?!?!?!

[buzzsaw]

okay, copper???? That is a common Cardinal, like one you see at the vatican.

[Jackpine Rob]

DOH!!!

Hey guys, how much you wanna bet she has been seeing the female - which really does look copper-colored, and snapped the pick of the male when it showed up?

First time I saw a cardinal (none around the Ely area where I grew up) it was a female cardinal, and I puzzled over the thing for several days before figuring out what I was seeing.

[R Buker]

She swore up and down when she was describing it that it wasn't a cardinal. She's had them there before so I'm surprised that she didn't know. But... by the picture and from her description, I was befuddled too.

Give me a canvasback or something I can identify!!