4.8.23 at Izaak Walton Preserve I, Homewood, IL

The Hermit Thrush is the only bird in it's genus, Catharus, to have a red tail.

This Blue Jay was preening a lot, so it might have just taken a bath.

With their blue back, white underside, and black face markings, Blue Jays are difficult to misidentify.

Blue Jay are also bigger than American Robins, but smaller than American Crows.

Eastern Phoebes can be identified by their white bellies, lighter brown-grey backs, and the fact that they perch lower in trees.

Despite being the same species as this Song Sparrow, the Song Sparrows from Alaska's Aleutian Islands are one third longer and twice as heavy.

Mourning dove?

Red-winged blackbird

Tree Swallow eggs are a little... strange. They start off pale pink, and, in around 4 days, they turn all white!

Like other swallows like Bank, Cave, Cliff, and Violet-green Swallows, Tree Swallows have no long barb-like feathers coming from the edges of their tails.

In this picture, you can see the iridescent blue on the Tree Swallow.

Tree swallow

Male Mallard duck

Great blue heron

Great blue heron