smittyone@cox.net

Which Flycatcher did I see at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA, today?

Thanks everyone.

I saw these three baby ducks paddling together in an inlet to Lake DeSoto this afternoon. When they didn't feel threatened, they came close to shore. Near shore they were feeding on something under water, rarely bringing their heads above water. I saw no adult ducks in the area. But both Wood Ducks and Blue-winged Teal frequent this part of the lake. They look what I'd imagine baby Mergansers would look like. But I don't know what a baby Merganser looks like, and haven't seen any adult Mergansers in a while.

I use Chrome, but I figured it out. Thanks everyone.

Seen two weeks ago at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. What is this flycatcher?

Thanks for the info, and especially the PDF insanityslave. Dumb question, but how do I save the PDF?

Now my brain hurts. Thanks Benjamin. Just kidding. But this is a wealth of information that I'll have to look into further. I was hoping for a simple answer, but as you pointed out, there really aren't any simple answers. THIS is why I come to this site.

So let's muddy the waters a bit, shall we? I learned a while back to stop calling Bald Eagles that weren't yet adults all as juveniles. I reserve the juvenile moniker for when they haven't fledged yet. I'm probably wrong in doing that. But when does an eagle stop being an eaglet? When it's no longer fuzzy and gets it's flight feathers? I'm fairly confident that I can age an eagle by plumage as 2, 3, or 4 years old, and will start calling 4 year olds as sub-adults. By my logic, if it's almost an adult, it's a sub-adult. Not gunna call 'em teenagers. I'm not trying to become an expert in all things eagle. But when I post a bird image online somewhere, I like to be as accurate as possible as to what I call it. Age, sex, breeding plumage, etc.

Thank you very much. That was precisely the answer I was seeking.

Thank you. But that wasn't the question I asked.

Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, Iowa. I know this is a Bald Eagle. I also know Bald Eagles reach adulthood and attain their fully white head and tail feathers at around 5 years old. Considering that, I'd say this eagle is about 4 years old. What would be the correct way to call this eagle--immature, sub-adult, other?

Thank you.

Thanks folks.

Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, Iowa.

(Moderator note: I goofed merging the threads; this post doesn't belong here, please disregard.) Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Is this a Bullock's Oriole or a first year male Baltimore Oriole, or other? Seen today at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA.

Thanks akandula. I think the weird iridescence on the back of the neck from a small breeze is what made me have 2nd thoughts.

Seen last week outside DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, Iowa. I'm about 90% sure this is a Mourning Dove. But...something nagging in the back of my head (can't put my finger on it) suggests it just might not be.

Too late to edit original post. I found two other pics that may be useful.

Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. Was this a Warbling Vireo? This was the only unobstructed in-focus pic I managed to capture of it.

Seen last week at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. It was flying with Tree Swallows and Cliff Swallows. Another "brown" Swallow I posted here for ID last week was a female Tree Swallow although I thought it was a Rough-winged Swallow. I have a lot of difficulty with the brown ones.

Thanks. I think I'm getting the hang of this.

Seen today at DeSoto NWR, near Missouri Valley, IA. Is this a Sanderling?