The Bird Nuts Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) Saw these mergansers in November 2017. I identified them through my (cheap) binoculars as Red-breasteds at the time, but I have a hard time trusting myself sometimes. So what do you think? They are preening in the photos (the only photos I got), so their heads are upside down. Edited January 23, 2019 by The Bird Nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinHood Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Red-breasted based purely on the shape of the bill and the steep "forehead". However I am a complete amateur, so I will be interested to see the other opinions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavan wood Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 In that second shot the throat shows no sharp demarcation from white chin to red throat and back to white again, so I would agree with RBME. Scott 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdbrain22 Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 9 minutes ago, cavan wood said: In that second shot the throat shows no sharp demarcation from white chin to red throat and back to white again, so I would agree with RBME. Scott Agreed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 Thanks, everyone! Glad to know I wasn't crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 10 hours ago, The Bird Nuts said: Thanks, everyone! Glad to know I wasn't crazy. Well, just because you were right on this one... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) Yeah, well, it makes me feel better about my other merganser IDs. The reason I started questioning my merganser IDs is because I had only seen a Red-breasted Merganser once in my life before that month and I haven't seen one since... I reported six Red-breasteds that November (without good photos) and wondered if I was making Commons into something I wanted to see more. ? Edited January 24, 2019 by The Bird Nuts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinHood Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 This is one of my images that I use as a "cheat sheet" but I still struggle as they are often very similar. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 6 minutes ago, RobinHood said: This is one of my images that I use as a "cheat sheet" but I still struggle as they are often very similar. So, RB on the left, CO on the right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Just now, Charlie Spencer said: So, RB on the left, CO on the right? Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinHood Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) Other way round. I am lucky as I see all three Mergansers most days but the two females are still tricky. I find the white under the bill is the best clue. Edited January 24, 2019 by RobinHood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: So, RB on the left, CO on the right? Yes, that's correct. I think it's important to get photos of similar species like this, but sometimes (especially when we're in the car) all I get is a glimpse through my binoculars or I just get a poor, backlit, blurry photo. I don't trust my memory...I am constantly telling the driver to stop (in the middle of the road) so I can take photos. There's a reason I don't drive when we go on birding tips... Edited January 24, 2019 by The Bird Nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinHood Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 21 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: So, RB on the left, CO on the right? Apologies Charlie, I misread your answer, I may be dyslexic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 @RobinHood, I'm not dyslexic but I frequently mis-state 'Left' and 'Right'. Oddly enough, it never happened when I was giving orders in the Army. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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