Expert: Julia Booth - 3/14/2008

Question
QUESTION: i live in southern oregon the bird was probing the grass near a scrubjay and was about 3 times its size body like a broad squat seagull , plumage like a poor will with a bold black throat patch and pale belly , beak also similar size and shape to gull but i think it was slightly curved . only saw it breifly ive looked all over the internet with no luck ! any ideas ?

ANSWER: Okay, given your description, I'm going to take a stab.

You said it was large, obviously larger than a scrub jay, and also larger than a seagull (which vary in size).

When you say that it was colored like a poorwill, I assume that you meant it was mottled and brownish.

A bill like a gull but with more curve sounds like a cormorant or a booby, but neither are likely to be found probing the grass or in southern Oregon.

Did it have webbed feet?

Did it make any sort of noise?

What sort of tail did it have -shape and length?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: no webs i was using the seagull reference for size it may be better compared with a lg bantam chicken it seemed more like a ground type bird as is walked instead of hopping and had a broad breast but the head and beak are wrong for a poor will and its tail was about a third of its body length and tapered the most striking characteristic was the black throat patch shaped like a bean ends up . very mottled back and strong probing beak, we live on a migratory route and often get odd out of area birds here thank you for your prompt reply and help

Answer
Okay. It sounds like it could be a game bird -given the walking and broad breast. That means the body isn't made for flying.

The first that comes to mind are the Ruffed and Spruce Grouse. They are both the right size, have a black throat patch, are mottled but they aren't commonly found in Southern Oregon.

I'm sorry I'm not more helpful. If this doesn't end up being it, try this website which I adore, which allows you to check distribution of species by geographic location. The stats are a little old, but fairly accurate.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r1/41.htm