Darrell Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 (edited) I'm going through some photos from a few years back and found this Goldeneye from Glacier NP that I had tentatively ID'd as a Barrow's. Is it possible to tell which species it is from these pictures? If it is, what makes you say one or the other? Thanks, -DG Edited August 17, 2019 by Darrell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Landon Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 A female Barrow’s will have a yellow bill in breeding season. Assuming the ducklings are hers, I would guess that she has breed recently. That being said, the forehead slope is near vertical ,which is diagnostic of Barrow.Fence sitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdx_bird Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 My vote is for Barrow's as well. I saw a Goldeneye with chicks recently in a lake in the Rockies in Canada, and thought it was Common based on the dark bill, but then was corrected by the local reviewer who mentioned it's a common (hah) ID mistake because "both female Common and female Barrow's darken up in June." (to Aug?) So based on that steep forehead, I'd say Barrow's is correct! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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