smittyone@cox.net Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 (edited) Local pond in Bellevue, NE, this afternoon. The pond had both Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. Are these both Common Mergansers, with an adult female in the lead, and an immature next to her? I think what's throwing me off is the bills. One is noticeably thicker than the other. BTW, this only the 2nd time I've seen Red-breasted Mergansers, and I rarely get close enough for decent pics of Common Mergansers. Edited April 6 by smittyone@cox.net added clarification 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 This is a gray comparison shot! The back bird is a female Common, the front bird is a female(or immature male?) Red-breasted. Notice the much more contrasting throat on the Common, as well as the much thicker bill on the Common. Notice the differences in the crest thickness and shape and length as well. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 24 minutes ago, IKLland said: This is a gray comparison shot! The back bird is a female Common, the front bird is a female(or immature male?) Red-breasted. Notice the much more contrasting throat on the Common, as well as the much thicker bill on the Common. Notice the differences in the crest thickness and shape and length as well. Whoops, supposed to say great comparison shot, not gray! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smittyone@cox.net Posted April 6 Author Share Posted April 6 Thank you. I chose that pic because I figured the side by side comparison would be good regardless of the ID. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpa Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 2 hours ago, IKLland said: Whoops, supposed to say great comparison shot, not gray! I just want to second this as such a great comparison shot. Having the heads right next to each other makes it easy to see all the differences. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Note also the nostril placement on the bills, and the different angles where the bill meets the head. And yeah, this is a fantastic comparison photo. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 8 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Note also the nostril placement on the bills, and the different angles where the bill meets the head. And yeah, this is a fantastic comparison photo. I didn’t know about the nostril thing! But yeah that’s pretty obvious up close. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 1 hour ago, Avery said: I didn’t know about the nostril thing! But yeah that’s pretty obvious up close. I recall one of Tony K's posts about the importance of the parts that aren't feathered - eyes, bills, and legs and feet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 3 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I recall one of Tony K's posts about the importance of the parts that aren't feathered - eyes, bills, and legs and feet. I agree. Those features are often overlooked. For these two species, I can see why this specific feature might be glossed over since it requires a closer distance to tell, while other features can be used fairly reliably from a distance. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 2 minutes ago, Avery said: I agree. Those features are often overlooked. For these two species, I can see why this specific feature might be glossed over since it requires a closer distance to tell, while other features can be used fairly reliably from a distance. From a distance, @IKLland's original comment on bill shape is more useful. Bill-to-head angle is probably good at medium ranges and longer too. Nostril placement is a great confirmer if you can see it, but I agree it may not be of value outside close range. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 2 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: I recall one of Tony K's posts about the importance of the parts that aren't feathered - eyes, bills, and legs and feet. You mean Tony L? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Senior moment. Thanks. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Fingers Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Senior moment. Thanks. I have those a lot, wait does that mean I’m a senior?? Edited April 6 by Snake Fingers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 16 hours ago, Snake Fingers said: I have those a lot, wait does that mean I’m a senior?? Some seniors are young at heart, so that means somebody must have gotten their old heart, no? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Fingers Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Just now, Kevin said: Some seniors are young at heart, so that means somebody must have gotten their old heart, no? I like this reasoning except I would say more mind instead of heart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 23 minutes ago, Kevin said: Some seniors are young at heart, so that means somebody must have gotten their old heart, no? 19 minutes ago, Snake Fingers said: I like this reasoning except I would say more mind instead of heart. Swapping minds with us old farts that are losing our minds sure would explain a lot. 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 1 minute ago, lonestranger said: Swapping minds with us old farts that are losing our minds sure would explain a lot. 😆 I didn't know when some was loosing their mind, it was meant so literally! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 What were we talking about? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Fingers Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 13 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: What were we talking about? Precisely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 46 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: What were we talking about? You and Snake Fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Fingers Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 2 hours ago, Kevin said: You and Snake Fingers. I think @Charlie Spencer meant what not who. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 1 hour ago, Snake Fingers said: I think @Charlie Spencer meant what not who. I don't remember. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 2 hours ago, Snake Fingers said: I think @Charlie Spencer meant what not who. Aren't you both robots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said: I don't remember. You should have a talk with your programmer, with enough storage, you should have a flawless memory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 29 minutes ago, Kevin said: You should have a talk with your programmer, with enough storage, you should have a flawless memory! I have 64Kb of on-board memory. It takes 56Kb to run Heat-Lung operating system (still in beta development). That leaves 8Kb for apps and storage. 6Kb is used for bird ID and NASCAR stats. That leaves 2Kb for this thread so l may lose some minor details, Wilbur. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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