[obol] Re: Goldeneye ID?
- From: David Irons <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>
- To: "ruffledgrouch@xxxxxxxxx" <ruffledgrouch@xxxxxxxxx>, OBOL Oregon Birders Online <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 08:14:59 +0000
Clay,
From the context of your commentary during this video clip, it is clear that
the bird in question is either the young male or the female that is with it
after you pan to the right off of the single female Common Goldeneye. Which of
these two birds do you have questions about?
To my eye, the male is a hatch-year bird with a fairly well-developed white
facial spot. The gray on the back and flanks, along with the fact that I can't
see a yellow eye indicate the age. I don't see anything on that bird that is
suggestive of a hybrid. The female in the foreground is somewhat interesting,
as the head shape seems Barrow'sish at certain angles and the bill seems
perhaps a bit shorter and steeper than what is typical for Common Goldeneye.
However, the total absence of yellow on the bill and the apparent head shape
and bill length/shape when it is closer to a perfect profile angle seems fine
for Common. I think the bird only suggests Barrow's when the head is turned
towards the camera, which makes the forehead look steeper and the bill shorter
and steeper.
The one clear-cut adult male Barrow's Goldeneye X Common Goldeneye that I've
seen in life (it spent at least two winters at Newport) had a facial spot that
was very rounded and oval and looked much like what you see on a pure Common.
I've seen other photos of hybrids where the facial spot was slightly more
crescent shaped. The easiest way to pick out an adult male hybird is the
pattern of black on the upper back and upper flanks. The amount of black on the
back and upper flanks is more extensive than in a pure Common and not as
extensive as a pure adult male Barrows. I think that IDing either a female (any
age) or young male hybrid would be a tall order.
Image #19 in the gallery at the link below is the hybrid adult male that
wintered at Newport for a couple of years. Jon Dunn found this bird while
birding with Shawneen Finnegan and me in late November of 2009. As I recall
Wayne Hoffman watched it throughout that winter and refound it again the
following winter.
http://www.birdfellow.com/birds/common-goldeneye-bucephala-clangula#/idPhotos
Dave IronsPortland, OR Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 20:03:47 -0800
Subject: [obol] Goldeneye ID?
From: ruffledgrouch@xxxxxxxxx
To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I hope that this is a link to some Goldeneye pictures that I have posted to the
OBOL Flickr account.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95295128@N03/11413218066/
I am agonizing over the pedigree of one of the three Goldeneyes. What do you
guys think. The 'H' word has been considered.
--
Happy birding
CLAY
Closed yahoo account and encourage you to not use yahoo. Please note my new
email address
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