As illustrated in this photo from the Midway Atoll INEG from 2013:
Sally Hill
Eugene Oregon
On Thu, Dec 27, 2018 at 9:46 PM Tom Crabtree <tc@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I think the one field mark pointed out in Noah’s post that hasn’t gotten
any discussion here is the much larger eye of Intermediate Egrets (to check
this out go to the Macaulay Library and look at their photos of
Intermediate Egret). It is a striking difference. The Washburn Lane bird
seems to have a typical smaller eye of a Great Egret.
Tom Crabtree, Bend
*From:* obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On
Behalf Of *Leith McKenzie (Redacted sender "loinneilceol" for DMARC)
*Sent:* Thursday, December 27, 2018 9:35 PM
*To:* Obol
*Subject:* [obol] Fw: [BIRDWG01] Intermediate Egret - Lane County Oregon
Cross posting in case anyone has relevant photos.
At this point in the discussion, it seems to me that any and all "field
marks" other than the size of the bird (and perhaps Mr Reid's ratio below)
have been both expounded and called into question at length by experienced
birders. (e.g. Intermediate does not have a kinked neck) . . .
Maitreya
----- Forwarded Message -----
*From:* Martin Reid <upupa@xxxxxxxxxxx>
*To:* BIRDWG01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Sent:* Thursday, December 27, 2018 5:37 AM
*Subject:* Re: [BIRDWG01] White Egret - Lane County Oregon
Group:
Are there any photos that provide a clear look at the tarsus and foot?
INEGs have big feet! Well, toes actually. With a good view this is often
obvious - rather like the difference between the toes of Orange-breasted
Falcon versus Bat Falcon.
Given that INEG has a proportionally shorter tarsus than GREG, a
comparison of tarsus length to toe length might provide a useful difference.
I took the liberty of downloading the images at the following two web
pages, and used them to create a ratio of tarsus length (from bend of knee
to base of “exposed” toe) : toe length (base of “exposed” toe to tip of
tail). The measurements were made with each element of the leg in the
horizontal position.
The results: Great Egret 1.67 : 1 ; Intermediate Egret 1.25 : 1
Even allowing for imprecise measurement and that this is a sample of one,
this suggests that there is a significant difference in leg and foot
structure between the two taxa.
https://blog.duncraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/File-Jun-14-12-13-41-PM-1080x720.jpeg
<
https://blog.duncraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/File-Jun-14-12-13-41-PM-1080x720.jpeg
https://ebonph.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/intermediate-egret-neon.jpg ;<
https://ebonph.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/intermediate-egret-neon.jpg>
Martin
---
Martin Reid
San Antonio
upupa@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.martinreid.com
Attachment:
Intermediate-Egret-Midway-Atoll-24-October-2013.png
Description: PNG image
