Hello Tweeties,

the most recently demystified bird was a Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus, which almost no one successfully identified;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_103.php

since this bird was so tricky, i'd like to invite you to read Rick Wright's interesting analysis to learn more about how to identify this species.

today's mystery bird can be viewed here;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_93.php

I also want to say one more thing. The Mystery Birds is a collaboration that requires a lot of effort every day to develop and maintain. To make this quiz work, I work with a dozen or so potential photographers behind the scenes, modify what I am doing based on reader feedback, and then there's Rick Wright, who VERY kindly volunteered to share his expertise through his wonderful written analyses for all of us to learn from. All of these people donate their time, their gorgeous photographs and their writing, and most of all, their expertise, so you and I can learn how to become better at this passion that we love so much. That said, I love it when readers comment to these mystery bird entries, but please, don't forget that we all are people who are voluntarily working together to educate the public, and we like to hear that we are doing a good job as much as the next person (maybe more, since we are not being paid). So please be kind and considerate to
each other and to those of us who are working behind the scenes on the mystery birds collaboration.

happy holidays,

GrrlScientist
Devorah
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC