a stranger in these parts (ID?)

The light was terrible, and I wanted a shot of the bluebird, so I set up the tripod and took a time delay. When the shutter went off, the little fella on the left was there as well.
Does anyone recognize this species?

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Black phoebe, maybe.

http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.​gov …Display.asp?FlN​m=sayonigr

Let me start by saying that it's exceptionally difficult to identify without seeing any tail/feather markings. But I've got two guesses for you.

1. An easter phoebe. They are in your area and are common near farms and bridges. They have dark heads, solid black bills and wag their tails as a habit. Why I don't think this is what you've got? They're almost 6" tall.

2. What I think you've got there is a juvenille eastern bluebird. Right body, beak and tail shape. Right size. The only variation is the chest plummage. It's hard to tell from your pic if the chest is speckled or just bristled feathers. If speckled, it's the baby to the bluebird next to it. Which makes sense to me.

Hope this helps!

Looks like a phoebe to me and around the feeders, birds mix together with no problems.
But I'm Definitely not an expert.
Karen

Karens right - it's an Eastern Phoebe. Note measurements given in bird books are from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail when the bird is extended.

I figured it was some kind of phoebe, and wanted to get the ball rolling!

TheGreatOg wrote in post #3136046
Let me start by saying that it's exceptionally difficult to identify without seeing any tail/feather markings. But I've got two guesses for you.

1. An easter phoebe. They are in your area and are common near farms and bridges. They have dark heads, solid black bills and wag their tails as a habit. Why I don't think this is what you've got? They're almost 6" tall.

2. What I think you've got there is a juvenille eastern bluebird. Right body, beak and tail shape. Right size. The only variation is the chest plummage. It's hard to tell from your pic if the chest is speckled or just bristled feathers. If speckled, it's the baby to the bluebird next to it. Which makes sense to me.

Hope this helps!

It's way too early for a juvenile (let alone a baby), even for Bluebird. This is an Eastern Phoebe. A Black Phoebe is Western species and would be rare in the east

Well, it was one of the two. Thanks for the info on the juveniles.

Thanks, everyone, for the help. I didn't recognize the head as a phoebe, but I do believe you're right. I saw a phoebe at the top of the hill a few weeks ago. The tail looks like the phoebe's tail I captured last August here:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=204219

Thanks again for the ID. Sorry about the poor image quality.

Postiemon wrote in post #3136774
It's way too early for a juvenile (let alone a baby), even for Bluebird. This is an Eastern Phoebe. A Black Phoebe is Western species and would be rare in the east

Welcome to the south. Bluebirds around here are already feeding their second broods of the year and have long since run-off the juveniles of the first brood.

In SC, bluebirds will lay their first eggs in February and the first brood will be fleged by mid to late March.

The EBB in my back yard will nest three times each year - usually two broods almost back-to-back starting in February then a final brood in July. It seems like the number of eggs, hatching and hatchling survival are highest with the early broods.

That is without a doubt an eastern phoebe. They are very common in your area.

I shot this one in Tennessee last week

And i thought phoebe's were only found in Friends.

Wow--bad joke scratch that

Alright, where's the pellet gun? Someone put bssmith out of his misery.

Rubberhead wrote in post #3140420
Welcome to the south. Bluebirds around here are already feeding their second broods of the year and have long since run-off the juveniles of the first brood.

In SC, bluebirds will lay their first eggs in February and the first brood will be fleged by mid to late March.

The EBB in my back yard will nest three times each year - usually two broods almost back-to-back starting in February then a final brood in July. It seems like the number of eggs, hatching and hatchling survival are highest with the early broods.

You're quite right. I wasn't thinking South. We are just getting our first Bluebirds up here now and they are just starting to nest.....It's still an Eastern Phoebe though.