The 4th photo to me shows his red going all the way up. Even if you can't see all the way to his bill, the females don't have the red go that high. Here's a female to compare.

She is beautiful

Best i can do blowin'um up. It wus real cloudy an kinda dark.

Thanks, Phil. It definitely was a difficult lighting situation, but it still looks like a male to me.

Either way, it's a nice looking bird. Mine don't sit still long enough to take a picture.

The only way I've been able to get photos is when I'm sitting outside reading and have my camera on the table right next to me to grab without moving. Otherwise movement scares them off, or you've missed the chance and they've moved on.

I just have a phone. Which does take nice pictures, but the birds are less cooperative when I'm outside so I can't take a picture.

I use my 200-500mm lens so I can be further away. And I always try to softly talk to the critters and tell them I just want to take their photo because they are so beautiful/handsome. It's amazing how that actually has them hanging out longer. Except the male hummingbirds - they don't need the ego boost apparently...

Today I had a mockingbird - no croaking like a frog so far.



And a newcomer to the yard, a cedar waxwing

Oohhhhh Cedar Waxwings. Wow

Nancy, have you ever considered a tripod? They really aren't all that expensive, and with a $25 or so shutter release, you won't scare them. I use that set up at the house when I am concentrating on one area, like the cardinal building her nest the other day. I set it up, sit in the chair, and when somebody shows up, I push the button. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is, but if I can do it, trust me, anyone can. I will take a picture of it set up next time I do it.

I love cedar waxwings too, their coloring is so smoothly and perfectly shaded. I get to see them when the pokeweed behind the garage has berries.

I don't have one spot to just aim it though. I do have a tripod and shutter releases. I could aim it at one of the bird baths, but I'd rather get hummingbirds. And the flowers for those are spread out all over the yard, there's no way to point at one spot for them. Movement just to pick up the camera next to me doesn't scare them off, and it's a long range zoom, so I can just sit and shoot from the chair.

The Gray Kingbird, in the Flycatcher family, is back at the river. When the Crested Flycatchers show up, these guys come too. Not a standout as far as looks, but they are a cool little bird.
The Hairy Woodpecker has an endangered status; hard to distinguish between them and the Downy sometimes, at least for me; The Hairy is a bit larger and has a larger beak. They use their tongue to pull out bugs and whatnot they have discovered.
My little Northern Parula family is still here, and the male showed up last night.

There is a quick way to distinguish between the Hairy and Downy.
Size is somewhat difficult to assess when the bird sits alone but it can be the beak. That can be an easy feature once you look at a few individuals.
A beak of a Downy is smaller, thinner and serves that bird well. BUT when you see a Hairy, that beak is noticeably longer, thicker or heavier. It has kind of gone from looking like a beak to looking like a weapon!!
Plus, look at your Downy images from the side. Those outer white bands on the tail are clearly spotted black. Very easy to see those spots! Very easy. Just concentrate on looking for them. It won't belong before you learn to spot them easily. That, and the beak, should make it easier for you to ID them!
Trust me, it will.

Ok. So I was wrong. Cool. Thanks

I apologize if you think I was saying you were wrong. I was not.
I taught bird classes on bird identification in the field as part of Adult Education on Long Island for over 20 years. I emphasized those 2 key features to help my students to learn the difference.

Hairys also have a thin vertical stripe down the back of their heads, you can see it in this picture. Downys will never have that vertical stripe.

Any suggestions who this baby might be? Bailey the "nurse dog" brought it in last night in the middle of a thunder storm.

Looks like maybe a mourning dove chick:
https://birdfact.com/articles/...

That was my guess too, mourning dove.

Thanks for the link...pics are slow to load but look just like this little one!