MarkG 2,020 Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Collared Aracari by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 13 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnd 1,463 Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Wood thrush by johnd1964, on Flickr 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,609 Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mossyhorn 1,506 Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seattle 1,416 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Now you see me - Now you don't   11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 2,020 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Red-headed Barbet by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,475 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) Female Red Breasted Merganser w/blackfish  Edited February 11, 2020 by pictaker 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,609 Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seattle 1,416 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 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 2,804 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 @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 1,506 Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 2,020 Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Violet Sabrewing by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark F 159 Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Coots on the run by Mark Featherstone, on Flickr 15 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,609 Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slidinghills 133 Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 Pileated Woodpecker - February 12, 2020 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 2,020 Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 Gray-necked Wood-Rail by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,609 Posted February 13, 2020 Author Share Posted February 13, 2020 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 2,020 Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Slate-thoated Redstart by Mark Goodwin, on Flickr 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bearcat6 3,609 Posted February 14, 2020 Author Share Posted February 14, 2020 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pictaker 2,475 Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 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 2,475 Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Common Loon w/crab  3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
akandula 2,804 Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 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 2,280 Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 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 285 Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 1,221 Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Herring Gull at New Jersey shore. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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