Another NJ bird ID please.

Took these pictures at the NJ Meadowland. Just not quite sure if this is a female Western Tanager, a Yellow Warbler, a finch or what. Tried the Audobon and Cornell bird apps and just doesn't seem a perfect match. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

I'd cast a vote for a yellow warbler female. Hard to tell with some of the field marks not visible. Maybe pine warbler female but no white vent visible.

Not an expert on North American passerines by any means (they are not common in the UK !), but from what I can see on the Birds of the World site, I would agree with EB.

Thank you, Edwin and Tony. I think the problem using those apps was that the bird picture on each page is always a male. And I have no idea the bird in my picture is a male or female. The Cornell University bird photo ID app matched my picture with an American Goldfinch, which I know is not right. Thanks again, guys.

I like iBird Pro. Doesn't always have females or juveniles but is pretty good. Some birds change pretty dramatically between breeding and non-breeding seasons which can really complicate things!

 

iBird also has recorded songs and calls which can be helpful with questionable id's.

 

I have it on iPhone. Don't know if android version available. I think there is (or used to be) a free/trial version.

I would go female American Goldfinch on this one.

For comparison -- in full sun though.

I would go female American Goldfinch on this one.

Not so sure - leg colour looks wrong, and the original bird pictured seems to have a finer, insectivore bill, and a faint eye-ring.

Not so sure - leg colour looks wrong, and the original bird pictured seems to have a finer, insectivore bill, and a faint eye-ring.

You may be right and certainly a yellow warbler is a possibility. They can be hard to tell apart without being able to carefully see each of the important differentiating features.

I'm thinking a prothonotary warbler -- if so, they are very rare, but not uncommon in NJ -- I've only seen one in my life and even then I wasn't positive. If it is, you are a lucky man, Andy!!