I have seen so many photos lately of pet birds that have "escaped" or set
free. So sad. There's a Budgie Parakeet flying around my neighborhood in
Woburn. No one has claimed it being theirs.
Diana Fruguglietti
Woburn
On Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 11:03 AM Janine Hart-Hueber <harthueber...>
wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I know the picture isn't great but does anyone have an idea of what this
> bird is?
> My husband and I saw it this morning on Milton Street about 7:30ish, and
> he saw it again a little later at a nearby house on Milton St,
> It is quite small (we both initially thought it was a fledgling), has an
> orange beak, a red line through the eye-similar to wrens,
> and it was wren-like, and tawny colored in general. I couldn't find
> anything to fit it on Merlin.
>
> I was wondering if it's maybe a lost pet (finch-like beak- and it was
> eating grass seeds)
> or something that got blown off track from another part of the country?
> Any guesses??
>
> Janine
> East Arlington
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Janine Hart-Hueber <jharthueber.arlgs...>
> Date: Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM
> Subject: Unknown bird
> To: harthueber <harthueber...>
>
>
> Unknown bird
>
> --
> Group home page:
> https://menotomybirdclub.com/ > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Arlington Birds" group.
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> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
YES! I believe it is a Common Waxbill.
Since it's from Africa, I assume it escaped from a cage somewhere?
Janine
On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 12:37 PM Janine Hart-Hueber <harthueber...>
wrote:
> I looked up Zebra Finch but it doesn't have the black and white stripes on
> the tail.
>
> On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 11:08 AM Andrew Whitacre <akwhitacre...>
> wrote:
>
>> We'll see if others agree, but it appears to be a zeebra finch, in which
>> case, yes, an escaped pet.
>>
>> Andrew
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 11:03 AM Janine Hart-Hueber <harthueber...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> I know the picture isn't great but does anyone have an idea of what
>>> this bird is?
>>> My husband and I saw it this morning on Milton Street about 7:30ish, and
>>> he saw it again a little later at a nearby house on Milton St,
>>> It is quite small (we both initially thought it was a fledgling), has an
>>> orange beak, a red line through the eye-similar to wrens,
>>> and it was wren-like, and tawny colored in general. I couldn't find
>>> anything to fit it on Merlin.
>>>
>>> I was wondering if it's maybe a lost pet (finch-like beak- and it was
>>> eating grass seeds)
>>> or something that got blown off track from another part of the country?
>>> Any guesses??
>>>
>>> Janine
>>> East Arlington
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>>> From: Janine Hart-Hueber <jharthueber.arlgs...>
>>> Date: Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM
>>> Subject: Unknown bird
>>> To: harthueber <harthueber...>
>>>
>>>
>>> Unknown bird
>>>
>>> --
>>> Group home page:
>>> https://menotomybirdclub.com/ >>> ---
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>> Groups "Arlington Birds" group.
>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>>> an email to arlingtonbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>>> To view this discussion visit
>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> .
>>>
>>
I looked up Zebra Finch but it doesn't have the black and white stripes on
the tail.
On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 11:08 AM Andrew Whitacre <akwhitacre...>
wrote:
> We'll see if others agree, but it appears to be a zeebra finch, in which
> case, yes, an escaped pet.
>
> Andrew
>
> On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 11:03 AM Janine Hart-Hueber <harthueber...>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I know the picture isn't great but does anyone have an idea of what this
>> bird is?
>> My husband and I saw it this morning on Milton Street about 7:30ish, and
>> he saw it again a little later at a nearby house on Milton St,
>> It is quite small (we both initially thought it was a fledgling), has an
>> orange beak, a red line through the eye-similar to wrens,
>> and it was wren-like, and tawny colored in general. I couldn't find
>> anything to fit it on Merlin.
>>
>> I was wondering if it's maybe a lost pet (finch-like beak- and it was
>> eating grass seeds)
>> or something that got blown off track from another part of the country?
>> Any guesses??
>>
>> Janine
>> East Arlington
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: Janine Hart-Hueber <jharthueber.arlgs...>
>> Date: Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM
>> Subject: Unknown bird
>> To: harthueber <harthueber...>
>>
>>
>> Unknown bird
>>
>> --
>> Group home page:
>> https://menotomybirdclub.com/ >> ---
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "Arlington Birds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to arlingtonbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
>
Date: 8/8/26 8:08 am From: Andrew Whitacre <akwhitacre...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Fwd: Unknown bird
We'll see if others agree, but it appears to be a zeebra finch, in which
case, yes, an escaped pet.
Andrew
On Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 11:03 AM Janine Hart-Hueber <harthueber...>
wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I know the picture isn't great but does anyone have an idea of what this
> bird is?
> My husband and I saw it this morning on Milton Street about 7:30ish, and
> he saw it again a little later at a nearby house on Milton St,
> It is quite small (we both initially thought it was a fledgling), has an
> orange beak, a red line through the eye-similar to wrens,
> and it was wren-like, and tawny colored in general. I couldn't find
> anything to fit it on Merlin.
>
> I was wondering if it's maybe a lost pet (finch-like beak- and it was
> eating grass seeds)
> or something that got blown off track from another part of the country?
> Any guesses??
>
> Janine
> East Arlington
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Janine Hart-Hueber <jharthueber.arlgs...>
> Date: Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM
> Subject: Unknown bird
> To: harthueber <harthueber...>
>
>
> Unknown bird
>
> --
> Group home page:
> https://menotomybirdclub.com/ > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Arlington Birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to arlingtonbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlingtonbirds/CAOjQbWSah3jtDqORCVXVt3mNmi7DS-0YuN%<3Di5pZ6hzUpd3qFZg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
I know the picture isn't great but does anyone have an idea of what this
bird is?
My husband and I saw it this morning on Milton Street about 7:30ish, and he
saw it again a little later at a nearby house on Milton St,
It is quite small (we both initially thought it was a fledgling), has an
orange beak, a red line through the eye-similar to wrens,
and it was wren-like, and tawny colored in general. I couldn't find
anything to fit it on Merlin.
I was wondering if it's maybe a lost pet (finch-like beak- and it was
eating grass seeds)
or something that got blown off track from another part of the country?
Any guesses??
Janine
East Arlington
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Janine Hart-Hueber <jharthueber.arlgs...>
Date: Sat, Aug 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Subject: Unknown bird
To: harthueber <harthueber...>
On Thursday 8/13 the Brookline Bird Club will sponsor a pelagic birding webinar - How do you protect the invisible? The presenter is Sea McKeon from the American Bird Conservancy. This webinar is open to all.
Date: 8/4/26 8:38 am From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Webinar intro to New England Shorebird Guide
Folks,
As some of you know, for the past 2-1/2 years I worked on a free web app that is designed for smart phones; it helps with shorebird identification. Last week I gave a webinar on shorebirds and the use of the app to the Brookline Bird Club (BBC). It was recorded and generously shared by the BBC, so here is the link:
There are other interesting webinar links on that page as well.
I also remind y'all that BBC is sponsoring a shorebird walk at Winthrop Beach on Tuesday, August 11, at 9 am. Meet at the corner of Winthrop Shore Drive and Sturgis Street.
Date: 8/1/26 10:28 am From: <sohzendeh...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Shorebird trip to Winthrop Beach Tuesday Aug 11 at 9 am
Folks,
I lead a shorebirds trip to Winthrop Beach on August 11 at 9 am. Meet at the intersection of Winthrop Shore Drive and Sturgis Street. There are a few additional details in the Brookline Bird Club announcement :
Date: 7/29/26 4:32 am From: Paul Ippolito <paulippolito295...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] MBC meeting tonight, Wednesday, Jul 29
Fellow MBC members,
As a reminder, we have a scheduled MBC Meeting tonight, Wednesday July 29th
at the Woburn Public Library.
*Wednesday, July 29*
*6:30 PM Social Time, 7:00 Meeting Start*
*New England Shorebird Guide*
*Soheil Zendeh – Woburn Public Library - 45 Pleasant Street*
Please join the Menotomy Bird Club on Wednesday, July 29th @ 7:00 PM at the
Woburn Public Library in the Program Room, as we will have Soheil talk us
through how to use this guide for all of your birding adventures.
Shorebirds are a group of sandpipers, plovers and other associated species
with rapidly declining populations. This is particularly true of shorebirds
that nest in Arctic or far northern areas and migrate through our region to
Central or South America. These long-distance migratory birds are among the
least known of our wildlife.
To familiarize folks with these birds and encourage conservation efforts,
the New England Shorebird Guide has been created, a digital-only field
guide accessible freely on the Bird Observer site. This web app can be
downloaded to your smart phone, tablet or computer.
In the talk, Soheil will explain to you some of the challenges faced by
shorebirds in their epic migrations and also explain the workings of the
shorebird app.
Date: 7/27/26 5:20 am From: Paul Ippolito <paulippolito295...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] MBC meeting Wednesday, Jul 29
Fellow MBC members,
As a reminder, we have a scheduled MBC Meeting on Wednesday this week.
*Wednesday, July 29*
*6:30 PM Social Time, 7:00 Meeting Start *
*New England Shorebird Guide*
*Soheil Zendeh – Woburn Public Library - 45 Pleasant Street*
Please join the Menotomy Bird Club on Wednesday, July 29th @ 7:00 PM at the
Woburn Public Library in the Program Room, as we will have Soheil talk us
through how to use this guide for all of your birding adventures.
Shorebirds are a group of sandpipers, plovers and other associated species
with rapidly declining populations. This is particularly true of shorebirds
that nest in Arctic or far northern areas and migrate through our region to
Central or South America. These long-distance migratory birds are among the
least known of our wildlife.
To familiarize folks with these birds and encourage conservation efforts,
the New England Shorebird Guide has been created, a digital-only field
guide accessible freely on the Bird Observer site. This web app can be
downloaded to your smart phone, tablet or computer.
In the talk, Soheil will explain to you some of the challenges faced by
shorebirds in their epic migrations and also explain the workings of the
shorebird app.
Date: 7/25/26 9:46 am From: David B <dkbeanlaw...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Hummer
I’ve had a hummingbird feeder on my porch for years and I get, I think,
just one hummingbird (a female). It’s probably the same bird year after
year. Are there so few hummers around that she would have no mate? Would
her mate not frequent the feeder too? I don’t get why I see only one.
Date: 7/20/26 9:02 am From: 'Maria Aliberti Lubertazzi' via Arlington Birds <arlingtonbirds...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Wednesday evening, Cambridge: MOTH BALL!
Hello folks!
Wanted to share this event with you...for those interested in wildlife (especially invertebrate!), and also the arts. The 2026 Cambridge Moth Ball will be an evening of outdoor (dark!) events related to the ecology, identification and cultural aspects of specifically moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera), at Fresh Pond's Kingsley Park. There will also be numerous participatory arts activities, for all ages. Please take a look at the website, and register (free!) if interested: https://www.bostonbirdingfestival.org/posts/moth-ball/ As an insect ecologist, I plan to be there and participate--with my new moth light!--but not sure yet if I'll "dress up"...
See you there?!?
Best,Maria
Date: 7/20/26 6:15 am From: Diana F. <diana.fru...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Our next Menotomy bird club meeting will be held at the Woburn library July 29th
Hi all
Soheil Zendeh will present a talk on his Shorebird app.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 29th, starting at 7:00 p.m. in the program room. Doors open at 6:30 for some social time. This event is open to the public, so bring friends. More details can be found in this link.
