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backyard birding -- ID help?

Can anybody help me ID the bird I saw this morning, it was larger than the finches -- beautiful red breast, the red went all the way around the neck, and it had dark wings wiith some white. I don't get enough of a look to take in the bill, the head or how far down the the breast the red color went. I have been scouring the bird books and the most likely candidate is flame-colored tanager--but a bit out of it's range Anybody with more knowledge have a more likely candidate???

Also, black-chinned hummer at the feeder this AM (in addition to the resident....)

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Ben Moffett on May 9, 2009 at 1:40pm: I'm thinking you might have a Bullock's oriole. Most folks describe them as orange, not red, but the color around their head looks pretty red to me. They have black and white wings and a black tail. They go to hummingbird feeders and hang on for dear life, and also like fruit. Check out bullock's oriole on Google and see if that's what it is. Bullock's Oriole Photo are the words that will do the job..; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bosque Bill on May 11, 2009 at 6:59am: I've been thinking about your bird, Icaldero, but haven't come up with a great answer. I know first-hand how frustrating it is to get a good, but partial look, at a bird then not find it in the field guide.

A few questions: How "red" was the red? Could it have been more orange? Where was the white on the dark wings? Wind-bars or spots? What was the bird doing? Was it high in a tree or close to the ground? Could there have been any yellow on the body?

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Permalink Reply by John Fleck on May 11, 2009 at 8:58am: Check out the Black-headed grosbeak. I had never seen one before in my yard (about a mile from UNM) but had one around all weekend. The white patches on the black wings were quite striking, which fits your description.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by roadrunner lady on May 11, 2009 at 9:07am: could it have been a red breasted Flicker?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by lcaldero on May 11, 2009 at 9:25am: Thanks for all of the replies. The black-headed grosbeak matches my memory the best. I discounted it at first because I thought I would have noticed the beak! The most striking feature was the coloring -- at first glimpse through the leaves I thought it might be a robin, then I noticed how the red went all the way around the neck, then noticed the white on the black wings, then it was gone! It was in my apple tree, fairly low -- between the peanut feeder and cranberry seed block.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by NM High School Sports News on May 24, 2009 at 1:06pm: What was the bird doing in your yard? Orioles do not go to seed feeders. They are nector drinkers and like fruit. Alot of times an oriole will come to your hummingbird feeder. If it was at your feeder, the I would say black-headed grosbeak. Both birds are here at this time of the year nesting and are frequent visitors to your backyards.; ▶ Reply to This