Weird birds????

[Dave Workman]

Wish I'd have snapped photos, but does this sound like anything you've ever seen?

On the opener, on the south side of South Cle Elum Ridge, I spotted two grouse-sized birds on a hill above the old road that were rather blue in color with white bands on the backs of their necks. I wasn't really near enough to shoot a photo (and since they didn't seem to be grouse, I sure as hell didn't shoot at 'em with a shotgun or .22 rifle!).

Never seen anything like them. I took a look at bird images today online and can't find anything close.

But there were definitely two of them. Where there are two, there are usually more.

[Oldguy]

Could it be a Eurasian Dove?

[JimmyHoffa]

band tailed pigeons? 

[WSU]

band tailed pigeons?

 

[Katmai Guy]

Guessing Bandtails, was just showing my son last night, some that landed in the firs around our house.  It's time!

[Mfowl]

Is this what you saw? If so, they were band tails.

[Dave Workman]

band tailed pigeons?

BINGO.  That appears to be the critter. I've never actually paid one whit of attention to the band tailed pigeon. Never had the slightest interest in the buggers.

I've never seen them before up on the ridge. I wonder what that's all about.

[singleshot12]

Bandtails the size of grouse? Go get ya some!

[MADMAX]

they are delicous
looks like you need a migratory bird liscence nowadays

[Dave Workman]

Bandtails the size of grouse? Go get ya some!

They were pretty good sized. I was looking at them from about 100 yards away, so i'd say they were about the size of a ruffed grouse. Maybe a bit smaller but not much.
I'm still trying to figure out what they were doing there. First time I've ever seen them up there.

[KP-Skagit]

Had a similar experience with a different bird this past weekend. On 2 separate occasions I jumped a pair of dark grey birds with white patches under wing and on the tail. Birds had long swept back wings and short squatty bodies. They were on ridges sitting in the dirt. My initial thoughts were they were some sort of nighthawk/nightjar. No idea why I thought that but looking at it now I think they actually were nightjars.

Anyone run into them before?

Cool experience that paired well with a few young blue grouse in the bag.

[Fishmaker57]

Used to hunt Bandtails up in the high country, great combo hunting them and grouse in the same area....Upper Skagit, Iron Mountain.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Info

[DOUBLELUNG]

Had a similar experience with a different bird this past weekend. On 2 separate occasions I jumped a pair of dark grey birds with white patches under wing and on the tail. Birds had long swept back wings and short squatty bodies. They were on ridges sitting in the dirt. My initial thoughts were they were some sort of nighthawk/nightjar. No idea why I thought that but looking at it now I think they actually were nightjars.

Anyone run into them before?

Cool experience that paired well with a few young blue grouse in the bag.

Sounds like you flushed a couple of common nighthawks