MarkG 1,958 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Collared Aracari by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 13 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnd 1,380 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Wood thrush by johnd1964, on Flickr 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,405 Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mossyhorn 1,505 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seattle 1,324 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Now you see me - Now you don't   11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,958 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Red-headed Barbet by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,304 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 (edited) Female Red Breasted Merganser w/blackfish  Edited February 11 by pictaker 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,405 Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seattle 1,324 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 This owl was having a wonderful discussion with it's mate in the tree next to it. There were 6 of us looking in that tree for the mate and we didn't see it.  Sometimes owls can seem invisible!   9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
akandula 2,786 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 @pictaker, the incoming black feathering around your merganser’s eye makes it a young male transitioning into adult plumage. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mossyhorn 1,505 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,958 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Violet Sabrewing by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark F 159 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Coots on the run by Mark Featherstone, on Flickr 15 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,405 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slidinghills 133 Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Pileated Woodpecker - February 12, 2020 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,958 Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Gray-necked Wood-Rail by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,405 Posted February 13 Author Share Posted February 13 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,958 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 Slate-thoated Redstart by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,405 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,304 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 On 2/11/2020 at 3:15 PM, akandula said: @pictaker, the incoming black feathering around your merganser’s eye makes it a young male transitioning into adult plumage. Although I tend to agree with you, Both Immature males and females can have the black feathers till their first adult molt. I was corrected many times by senior "birders" on this. The fact that this bird was with a mature male who actually was trying to mount it (and was successful once)makes me call it a female... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,304 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 Common Loon w/crab  3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
akandula 2,786 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 2 hours ago, pictaker said: Although I tend to agree with you, Both Immature males and females can have the black feathers till their first adult molt. I was corrected many times by senior "birders" on this. The fact that this bird was with a mature male who actually was trying to mount it (and was successful once)makes me call it a female... That's really interesting. @Tony Leukering said in his article that "While you are looking at the eyes, note the color of the nearby plumage. The plumage around the eyes is among the first adult head plumage grown by first-year males transitioning to adult plumage, and any distinctly dark plumage there identifies the bird as a male." That's why I was arguing male. There's clearly distinct dark feathering near the eye and on the throat. Jay McGowan's checklist has an adult female that look identical to your bird. So, if your bird is really a female, is there a definitive way of sexing these plumage-types (without behavior observations)? Very curious to see what Tony has to say. Really nice shot, by the way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Leukering 1,973 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 The red eye and dark plumage around it are definitive for male Red-breasted Merganser among all New World merganser plumages. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jodi Nielson 278 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 1,016 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Herring Gull at New Jersey shore. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.