The following photo has been the subject of a discussion on the ID-Frontiers listserve recently. It’s a Swainson’s Thrush, but is it the first-ever record of a melanistic Swainson’s Thrush, or just a normal bird seen in shadow?
Color Illusion and thrush identification Read More »
Be sure to sign up at 10,000 Birds for your chance to win an original David Sibley painting of Spoon-billed Sandpiper – and help bird conservation efforts at the same time. New photos of bill shape and new survey results in southeast Asia. Jeremiah Trimble has posted a fascinating photo he took in Thailand here.
Updates on Spoon-billed Sandpiper Read More »
A favorite activity among avid birders is speculating and pontificating about which species should be “split” into new species (and new checkmarks on the life list). Another way of stating the question is “which subspecies should be elevated to full species status?” I’ve always tried to emphasize the value of paying attention to subspecies even when they don’t
The next 10 North American bird splits Read More »
Spring is always an exciting time for birdwatchers, as migrants pass through and summer residents return, all in their flashy breeding plumage. This time of year is equally interesting for tree-watching, and it is the best time of year for identifying trees from a distance by their color.
Identifying trees by color Read More »
I’ve donated this original painting of Spoon-billed Sandpiper which is being given away over at 10000 Birds. In order to have a chance to win it all you have to do is donate $25 to become a member of their Conservation Club, and virtually every penny of the money raised will be given away to
A chance to own an original painting of Spoon-billed Sandpiper Read More »
The Sibley Guide to Birds is now available in a series of eight laminated “folding guides” to birds. They can be found in many book and nature shops for $7.95 each, or ordered directly from Steven M. Lewers + Associates. The titles are listed below, clicking any of them will take you to the Steven M.
New Folding Guides to birds Read More »
In The Sibley Guide to Trees I refer to some species of trees as having leaves (or needles) two-ranked, and several readers have asked me to clarify the meaning of the term. In the introduction of the guide on p. xxix the term is mentioned and illustrated with one example: American Elm has leaves two-ranked,
The meaning of “two-ranked” Read More »
In a previous post I wrote about false faces in birds, using the example of a Downy Woodpecker to show how color patterns create the illusion that the bird is looking straight at you when, in fact, it is looking the other way. I promised a few more examples, so here they are: First, one
More false faces in birds Read More »
I have updated my events page with several public events in the next few weeks, including a live radio show with Ken Gale on Tuesday March 9th at 11 AM on WBAI, 99.5 FM NYC or live-streamed on http://www.wbai.org. March 6th in Westminster, MD March 10th in New York, NY March 20th auction of a small
Upcoming Events – March 2010 Read More »
Phenology is the study of the timing of natural events, and I have recently begun to realize how useful it is for distinguishing subspecies of birds. In San Diego in Mar 2009 I noticed differences in behavior and molt timing that were helpful in distinguishing Belding’s and Northern Savannah Sparrows. I wrote about this again
Subspecies by phenology – Great Blue Heron Read More »