MarkG 1,800 Posted February 10 Collared Aracari by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 13 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johnd 1,270 Posted February 10 Wood thrush by johnd1964, on Flickr 8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seattle 1,282 Posted February 11 Now you see me - Now you don't   11 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,800 Posted February 11 Red-headed Barbet by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 11 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,195 Posted February 11 (edited) Female Red Breasted Merganser w/blackfish  Edited February 11 by pictaker 12 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seattle 1,282 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akandula 2,563 Posted February 11 @pictaker, the incoming black feathering around your merganser’s eye makes it a young male transitioning into adult plumage. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,800 Posted February 12 Violet Sabrewing by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 12 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark F 146 Posted February 12 Coots on the run by Mark Featherstone, on Flickr 15 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slidinghills 133 Posted February 13 Pileated Woodpecker - February 12, 2020 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,800 Posted February 13 Gray-necked Wood-Rail by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 1,800 Posted February 14 Slate-thoated Redstart by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,195 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,195 Posted February 14 Common Loon w/crab  3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akandula 2,563 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Leukering 1,491 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 1,012 Posted February 15 Herring Gull at New Jersey shore. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
