c12s Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 A friend and I were driving in the Everglades yesterday and saw quite a few birds flying overhead, no photos. He thought they were White Ibis but I don't think so and lean towards a heron. The distinguishing feature was the underside of the wings appeared solid black with a white body. The closest I can guess is a Tricolored Heron based on a photo seen on this site that I've posted here too. What we saw didn't have the white though, maybe an immature? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 Just clarifying: the picture posted is NOT what you saw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 My first thought is a wood stork. So check that out. I'll keep thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlinsc Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 wood storks would have white underwings with black tips and trailing edges. Look up "Little Blue Heron" as I think that could be what you saw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 Well, the underwings of a wood stork have enough black that I've seen them look completely black in certain light. Little Blue Herons are completely blue as adults, and completely white when they are immature. Unless I'm forgetting a phase where they have both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Friedman Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 Welcome to Whatbird! Were these birds all flying together? Anyway, I'm wondering about Magnificent Frigatebird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlinsc Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 1 hour ago, meghann said: Well, the underwings of a wood stork have enough black that I've seen them look completely black in certain light. Little Blue Herons are completely blue as adults, and completely white when they are immature. Unless I'm forgetting a phase where they have both. There is a phase where Little Blues are maturing where they are both blue and white and very beautiful. They can appear "black" overhead depending on lighting. I have to say, I live a half mile, (and monitor for SCDNR), from a wood stork rookery and have never seen one whose wings appear all black from below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 White Pelican? Although they don't have as much black as the Wood Stork. Young White Ibis transitioning to adult plumage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelodger14 Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 reddish eye color indicates a Tricolored Heron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c12s Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 7 hours ago, meghann said: Just clarifying: the picture posted is NOT what you saw? That is correct, the photo is one I found on this forum when searching for an answer to my own question. It is NOT what I saw nor am I having any luck finding the original post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c12s Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 7 hours ago, meghann said: My first thought is a wood stork. So check that out. I'll keep thinking. I don't think so, coincidentally I set out to find Wood Storks when I saw these. I did find some but didn't get any photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c12s Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 6 hours ago, Jerry Friedman said: Welcome to Whatbird! Were these birds all flying together? Anyway, I'm wondering about Magnificent Frigatebird. Thanks for the welcome. They were all flying together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 20 minutes ago, thelodger14 said: reddish eye color indicates a Tricolored Heron The photo in the first post is NOT the bird c12s saw, it's just the closest photo he could find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c12s Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 5 hours ago, carlinsc said: There is a phase where Little Blues are maturing where they are both blue and white and very beautiful. They can appear "black" overhead depending on lighting. I have to say, I live a half mile, (and monitor for SCDNR), from a wood stork rookery and have never seen one whose wings appear all black from below. I'm suspecting you're right in that the lighting made the underside look black when, if fact, they weren't. I love the Little Blues and am seeing them frequently lately but what I saw was too big to be one. I think it's best to withdraw my question and I'll see if I experience the same thing again in a different light. I do appreciate everyone's help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 Too big for a Little Blue? That would rule out Black-Necked Stilts. AAB maps show they may winter in south FL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcarscadden Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 this is a picture (long zoom) of a juvenile Magnifcent Frigatebird i show in 2016 in the everglades at almost exactly this time of year - early Dec. it has the coloring described but several things about the phot used....was the neck as long as that shown in the photo - if so not likely a frigatebird. Was the beak as thin...if so not likely a wood stork.. the female frigate bird looked much like this except the head was black on the female Magnificant Frigate Bird juvenile (2) (640x428) by Jim Carscadden, on Flickr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c12s Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 That looks promising, thank you! The beak was thin and it definitely wasn't a wood stork. I'll run it by my friend and see if he agrees. In the meantime I think I'll head out today and see if I can see them again. Any excuse to spend time there is a good excuse (but who needs an excuse!) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcarscadden Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 you are quite welcome....these were high in the sky when i saw them...perhaps half a dozen or more...bit did not see any males...at least none with the orange/red throat pouch. One other thing about then that sets them off a bit is the "hooked" bill..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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