Northern Flicker? That's my best guess. I have been hearing a strange/different call coming from a huge pine tree, right behind my house, but on the opposite side, so I can never see who is making the noise. I've been spotting blue jays flying by (taunting me) so I was getting excited that maybe that is what it was. Yesterday, I was checking my blue jay bait (a big bowl of peanuts) when I saw a bird that I immediately recognized as "not a dove". I snapped a few shots and this was the best I got. I researched a little and came up with "female northern flicker" (the males have red on their nape) I listened to a sample of their calls and, sure enough, that is who has been chatting it up. I even discovered that who I thought may have been the one and only squirrel I have seen here in 8 years (which has me completely giddy in itself) chattering, was actually the sound that a group of flickers make when they talk amongst themselves. :)
Very nice capture. You sound a little like me with finding a bird to photograph and then having to do the research to find out what you have. Photography certainly opens our eyes to all the wonderful things around us.
