Confirm White shielded coot

[IKLland]

11 hours ago, DLecy said:

"White-shielded" Coots are within the range of possibility in CA. Many birds can show a variety of intermediate traits with regards to the shield/callus. That being said, I'm afraid that in your photo, the whites are just too overexposed to make an accurate call. My sense is the same as others on this thread, and that this bird is not a candidate for the "White-shielded" designation in eBird, at least without clearer pictures.

However, good for you to keep an eye out on some of these subtle features that many observers overlook.  Keep it up.

The article written in 1988 by the person (Don Roberson) who identified and photographed the "White-shielded" bird you referenced.

https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/nab/v042n05/p01241-p01246.pdf

 

Thanks. Like I said, something about the bird just looked “off”. But your right, probably can’t identifiable without better photos. I actually didn’t know much about this taxa until I thought I saw one the other day. 

[Connor Cochrane]

3 minutes ago, IKLland said:

Thanks. Like I said, something about the bird just looked “off”. But your right, probably can’t identifiable without better photos. I actually didn’t know much about this taxa until I thought I saw one the other day. 

Here’s some photos of the same bird from yesterday. 
 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S105329902

[IKLland]

1 minute ago, Connor Cochrane said:

Here’s some photos of the same bird from yesterday. 
 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S105329902

Interesting. Since these photos are way better than mine, what’s your opinion based on these photos? 

[Tanager 101]

 

8 hours ago, IKLland said:

Interesting. Since these photos are way better than mine, what’s your opinion based on these photos? 

I'm still on the fence but with these I lean more towards white-shielded

[IKLland]

Well, my report has been confirmed as White shielded! The person who saw the same bird the day after changed theirs to white shielded as well. Thanks all!