Bird in the Koi Pond

Wife just got home from a trip, did a little maintenance on the Koi Pond, which increased the flow on the waterfall. She was up in her office which overlooks the pond. Suddenly, she called out "There's a bird washed into the pond." I looked out and didn't see a thing. She went out and fished it out, still living. An hour or so later, it was recovering in a sunny small garden. Hadn't seen its like before so looked it up -- a Western Tanager, which we have not seen before. I didn't want to stress it further, so just took a few shots. As I took the last, it recovered enough to fly up into the pines. Of course, while I was out there, one of our fearless cross beaks.

Top bird is hard to identify from pictures, could be western tanager if you are in the west.

Bottom bird would then probably be a female Black-headed GROSBEAK, not cross beak.

Rod, we are in the west - Montana. Closest I could come to the colors and configuration, and the bird was soaked, was Western Tanager, between various books and the net. Didn't want to stress it further, and when it was dry enough, off it went. As to the other bird..

Seems within range of the Red Crossbill. No expert -- checked some books & the net. Thanks for your input!

Red Crossbill Photos - Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center

I'm with Sandy - no white patches on teh wings that i would expect to see on the female black-headed grosbeak.

I'm with Sandy - no white patches on teh wings that i would expect to see on the female black-headed grosbeak.

Point well taken. The head on the bird in the pond certainly has the look of a grosbeak head. And I don't se the crossbill. The bird on the pole looks like a different bird to me.

Rod -- these guys are a good bit smaller than the Grosbeak- some of the bills cross one way, some the other and some more extreme. We have a permanent population of these guys and they are pretty fearless so you can get close and they will still stay around.