Wildlife Spotting

it's definately a Starling. I would know, I know someone who raised one. Here's a picture of one.http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshandmeg/5750680579/

Blackbirds and starlings are both Icterids, so they will have very similar features. Coloring reminded me of a thrush , but now I looked at the longer sharper beak, and a more sloped "forehead". I agree that it is probably a European Starling- they are everywhere in DC.

But like I said it is not a Starling, body shape and colouring is wrong.

The page also reads that "the species is on the North American list". Due to escapees and wondering vagrants. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Blackbird However if you really feel its wrong, and not sighted enough in the area to legitimately make it an ID. Then I'm sure the Noah Rangers will delete it. I don't mean to course offence, sorry.

Sarahaw 1981Turdus merula is not a american bird,i dont know the sp of the little one in the spotting but is not a turdus merula because was spotted in USA You have to be more careful when you make a id suggestion :-) read this from wikipedia "Distribution and habitat The Common Blackbird breeds in temperate Eurasia, North Africa, the Canary Islands, and South Asia. It has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand.[6] Populations are sedentary in the south and west of the range, although northern birds migrate south as far as northern Africa and tropical Asia in winter.[6] Urban males are more likely to overwinter in cooler climes than rural males, an adaptation made feasible by the warmer microclimate and relatively abundant food that allow the birds to establish territories and start reproducing earlier in the year."

Fledgling Black Bird, we have them in Australia (interdicted) I used to rescue injured wildlife. The general body shape resembles the European Starling, but the colouring is wrong plus it is to long in the legs for the Starling. This is also the colour that the females keep, the males will lose this colour for the distinctive black.

It's a fledgling - just left the next, but not quite independent . The yellow rubbery edges at the corners of the beak show that. From the general shape , I might guess a thrush of some sort. Not sure. What's your habitat there like? Wooded?