FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Quiz #4

[Brainard.Palmer-Ball@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Our dear, shy president refuses to post a solution to the Quiz bird #4 at
http://www.biology.eku.edu/KOS/whatisit.html, but most everyone likely knows
it is a Lapland Longspur.  

The reddish-brown on the nape and the black smudge on the chest suggest it
to be a male in basic plumage. I think Kathy photo'd this bird several
winters ago during a cold, snowy snap.  

Interestingly, this winter's snow and cold has not brought many birds to our
latitude.  I guess some shots I saw on the news a couple of weeks ago with
kids playing in a virtually snowless Duluth, Minnesota suggests why . . .
more snow to the south than the north.  

Notice the "long spurs" [= pronounced toenails] on this bird for which the
group gets its name.  Also, although Lappies have white in the outer tail,
it is not very extensive, as is evidenced by the restricted amount of white
visible on the underside of the outer tail feathers.

bpb, Louisville
brainard.palmer-ball@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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