If you’ve followed any of the discussions about identifying Red Crossbill call types, you may have given up on taking an active role in crossbill study, thinking that it would require thousands of dollars worth of recording equipment and computer software. Well, that is simply wrong. Most people can enter the field and start identifying crossbills […]
You too can record and identify Crossbill call types Read More »
I recently checked the bill length to bill depth ratios of Cackling and Canada Geese, expecting to find a consistent and useful difference. The bills of Cackling Geese are often described as “stubby” and I was always under the impression that they were short and relatively deep. Working with the measurements in Pyle (2008, Identification
Bill size, not shape, distinguishes Cackling and Canada Goose Read More »
In discussing the identification of the woodpecker in the Luneau video, my colleagues and I suggested that the extensive white visible in the wings could be accounted for, in part, by the natural twisting of the wings during flight. A bird flying away would show the underside of the wings during the entire downstroke. In the
Wing twisting explained Read More »
In my last post I mentioned that the juvenal plumage of type 4 and type 2 Red Crossbills seemed to be consistently different, and here are two photos that illustrate the differences.
Variation in juvenal plumage of Red Crossbill Read More »
An article in the Aug 28, 2010 edition of the New York Times – Warning to Birds: All-Glass Buildings Ahead – describes recent developments in window technology to prevent bird collisions, which is very encouraging because it demonstrates a recognition of the issue by the major news media and by industry. Thanks to the work being done
New York Times on windows and birds Read More »
These two species (recently split) are extremely similar in appearance. No significant differences exist in size or shape, and plumage differences are subtle and mostly overlapping. Songs differ slightly but consistently, and call notes (year round) are the most different. Voice, especially call, will be the best way to distinguish them, and identifying individual birds
Distinguishing Pacific and Winter Wrens Read More »
The North American Checklist Committee of the AOU has published the 51st supplement to the AOU Checklist of North American Birds, which includes two major splits, some name changes (mostly from the creation of new genera), and some big changes in higher-level taxonomy. Below is a summary of the changes to English and Scientific names
New bird names in the 51st AOU Checklist supplement Read More »
Updated 19 May 2010 to add McLaughlin reference Previously I wrote about the variation in immature Ring-billed Gulls in October, using a series of photos from Cape Cod. On 18 April 2010 I devoted a little time (and a granola bar) to watching and photographing immature Ring-billed Gulls in a parking lot in Boston, MA.
Variation in immature Ring-billed Gulls – April 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 »