Identify this silhouette

I took the following photograph this October during an early morning survey, and it is your task to tell me what it is!

I was able to see the bird clearly before I took this, but I think the photo alone is a great indicator of identification. The month itself is a hint and I am not going to provide any further help. There is a reason that Roger Tory Peterson placed the "Roadside Silhouettes" in the front and back of his field guides as sometimes that is all you are going to see of a bird, and it is often more than enough to accurately identify it. I will post the answer and a more "illuminating" photo in another blog post soon.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photo © Scott Kruitbosch and not to be reproduced without explicit permission