Please identify this bird to save my sanity.

[redmoss]

Hello all,

I adopted the bird on the far left from a shelter a few months ago. They had him classified as a canary. I scoured the internet and my books because he is like no canary I've ever had or seen but never came up with a definite match.

Well, the other day I noticed he now has bits of orange plumage and I'm completely baffled as to what exactly he is. As far as a description of his vocalization, the best I can describe is it's like clicking/hissing. He seemed like a grumpy bird and was initially a bit ornery to the others; he's almost sociable now but quite the loner.

I will be eternally grateful for an identification and also extremely impressed by your knowledge.

By the way, I've been a peruser of this forum for awhile, so I've already gleaned a ton of help. I guess I already owe you thanks- a much belated thank you.

[CandoAviary]

Looks like he has some black on the belly also. Probably an Orange Bishop weaver. They have nuptial featers when they come into breeding condition... when they moult they will go back to the striped paterern that looks just like the female
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... weaver.php

I have these and they do his and sound like they have fravel in their mouths They also will puff up and look really big.

[ac12]

Shooting the pix w a flash or close the curtain in the back. It is VERY hard to take a good pix with strong backlighting. This is the best that I could do to lighten the shadows.

[L in Ontario]

Yes, it is hard to see the bird properly with the bright background. Candace could well be right about it being a weaver. Can you take another pic?

[kenny]

hi
it looks like a weaver to me what colour is its beak,because it could also be a red billed quelea which is a weaver but they are more plentiful than the orange or red bishop weavers

ken

[redmoss]

Thank you so much.

His beak is tan colored.

I will try to get a better picture so you can see the details better.

[CandoAviary]

Here is one of my weavers with a couple of hens... the males look like the hens when not in breeding plumage. The males beak will darken as he comes into breeding condition.

In the aviary in his full glory

An when puffing and growling... what a show off


They weave beautiful nest with the bluest eggs

[redmoss]

Candace,
Those pictures are amazing, thanks. I especially love the intimidating weaver, so scary.

Here is my abysmal second attempt at pictures:




Maybe it's time to break out an actual camera.

[kenny]

hi
certainly looks like weaver,and i yhink its in molt or just getting its adult plumage hard to tell from those pics

ken

[CandoAviary]

redmoss, a weaver for sure, looks like it might be a red weaver instead of orange... break out the camera and get some pictures in differnent stages of his moult... noone will ever believe that inconspicuous brown and tan bird is the bird that he will become

[kenny]

hi
i found this picture on one of my old discs,its not one of mine,it may have come from someone on another bird site which i belonged to a long time ago

ken