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Although the bird is fluffed up and kind of plump like a Loggerhead, there
are enough features that tell me it's a Northern:
The strongly
hooked bill. I don't recall seeing a Loggerhead with that much hook.
The black mask,
although somewhat broad in back, doesn't go across the bill, and there is just
the hint of an eyebrow.
The white rump
is prominent. The Loggerhead would have a gray rump.
The slight
streaking of the breast may be a light-diffusion artifact, but what barring
there is on the flanks would also tend toward the Northern.
It may be a tad early for Northerns to be showing
up, but I've seen other species down lower than usual for this month this
year. It has been said that because of this that we may be in for an early
and long, cold winter.
--Steve
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