Expert: Roger Lederer - 11/24/2007

Question
My wife and I have been active birders for a couple of decades and pretty good with most new england birds.  Yesterday we visited Manomet point near Plymouth, MA and saw  the usual gulls, sea duck, cormorant, a few eider and a young gannett.  About to leave and I spotted a finch or bunting like bird in the rugosa rose that was absolutely unmistakable, but I cannot find it in any bird book. Briliant red head turning more orangish at the neck.  Deep black belly.  Orangish back and olive wings (while resting) and a shortish orange tail. We got a really good look at it for several minutes (I was the closest possible focus for my Leitz 10x40 without going blurry). I assume it is an exotic - perhaps an escaped pet, but I cannot find it in pet store pictures either.  I kick myself for having left my camera at the hotel.  Appreciate any help.  Thanks.

Answer
Well, I don't get stumped very often, but I am here. Nothing in North America or Europe fits this description and if it is an escaped cage bird it may be from anywhere. It could be from a zoo or it could be from a domestic breeder. That leaves a very large number of possibilities and all I could do is make some wild guesses. Yes, a photo would be extremely helpful. You sound like an experienced birdwatcher and probably gave me a good description. Often I discover that questioners describe a bird to me and send a photo that hardly matches their description. Anyway, sorry I can't be of help here. Maybe you'll see it again?