okaugust Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 I hear tell that I get a better response to these requests if I just keep each post to one bird or type of bird, so here goes. I feel a little spammy but I hope you forgive some good lord it's still snowing in Wyoming and I haven't left the house in days bird ID clean up. Taken August 18th, 2019 at Hutton Lake NWR south of Laramie WY. I IDd in the field as Forster's Tern due in part to the fact that during the summer they nest there in profusion along with White-faced Ibis. After some consideration, the eBird reviewer (who was with me at the time) got to contemplating that it was a Common Tern. Common Terns are, uh, uncommon in WY but in August it could be a possible migrant. I realize these are not great shots, but I thought I would throw them out for further opinions. Much obliged! We agreed these two are Forster's: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akandula Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 The light orange bill/legs, light-colored wingtips and long tail all make these terns Forster's. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 (edited) What about the gray tint on the belly and breast of the last 2 birds? Edited April 3, 2020 by Jefferson Shank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nivalis Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 1. Forsters 2. common tern 3.common tern To me 2 and 3 look like a common terns seeing as they have grayish belly but it can be very hard to tell I would wait for more experts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nivalis Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 (edited) I agree with @Jefferson Shank that we need to take the gray coloration of the belly and breast into account on the last too birds Edited April 3, 2020 by Nivalis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Anybody else have ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nivalis Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 hopefully they will be along later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 18 minutes ago, Jefferson Shank said: Anybody else have ideas? Only to say that it looks to me like the undergray on the last bird might be shadow or due to the darkness of the oysters the bird is perched on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Only to say that it looks to me like the undergray on the last bird might be shadow or due to the darkness of the oysters the bird is perched on. Maybe a shadow for the last one but not the second one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 1 minute ago, Jefferson Shank said: Maybe a shadow for the last one but not the second one. Oh, I agree completely regarding the second bird. That's definitely part of the bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Forster's Tern Common Tern Forster's Tern - grayness due to shadow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nivalis Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 I'm with Akandula -- the second bird is in side lighting, and fairly harsh side lighting at that, creating an artifact of gray underparts... as in https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/219996991#_ga=2.246822274.785834017.1585270112-1184313056.1549327880 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/213654441#_ga=2.256384397.785834017.1585270112-1184313056.1549327880 FOTEs can seem to be gray-bellied even in flat lighting -- https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/173082651#_ga=2.252648719.785834017.1585270112-1184313056.1549327880 I think that the thick-billed and long-legged appearance is more reliable than horribly lit plumage features. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okaugust Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Thanks for the discussion! Sounds like we are still in the Common/Forster's ID group. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, okaugust said: Thanks for the discussion! Sounds like we are still in the Common/Forster's ID group. ? No they are definitely all Forster's Edited April 4, 2020 by AlexHenry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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