GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea, photographed at Quintana Sanctuaries, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 14 April 2007 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/200s f/8.0 at 500.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
A blue bird. With a short tail. A moderately short wing. And a thickish bill. Not much else matches that description than a male Indigo Bunting -- and one that has attained full adult plumage, with a complete set of bright blue edgings on the flight feathers and wing coverts.
The classic confusion species is Blue Grosbeak, another member of the genus Passerina. But especially in a view like this, we'd see the shorter, darker, white-tipped tail of a Blue Grosbeak, the fatter body, the extensively rusty wings, the blacker face, and the more cardinal-like bill of that larger species. In poor light or at a distance, either species can appear simply blackish, but even then the shorter tail, bulkier body, and heavier bill of Blue Grosbeak should distinguish it readily from the slighter and more gracile Indigo Bunting.
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Well, after all the agonizing I did the other day, I should certainly know that beak by now. :-)
The male's plumage makes the answer a little easier this time: indigo bunting.
Posted by: John Callender | November 6, 2008 10:53 AM
This is a male Indigo Bunting. It does not have the brown on thw wings asociated with a male blue grossbeak, and its beak looks smaller than that of a blue grossbeak.
Ian Kinman
Posted by: ian kinman | November 6, 2008 3:28 PM
Not only is it a male Indigo Bunting (INBU), it is an after-second-year (ASY) male INBU, based on the black (not brown) primaries and the fully blue (not brownish black) primary coverts. Additionally, these birds usually don't get that nearly purple color on the head until after the second year.
The first bird I ever banded was an ASY INBU. It looked a lot like this one. Nice bird!
Posted by: Albatrossity | November 6, 2008 5:54 PM
That is the Blue Bird of Happiness!
Posted by: The Ridger | November 6, 2008 7:56 PM
[off-topic]
GrrlScientist,
Since you're a parrot fan you'd probably like the news that NZ's "Bird of the Year" is a parrot, the Kakapo: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4753350a7693.html (with picture)
Posted by: DeafScientist | November 7, 2008 1:09 AM