[TN-Bird] Re: Need Help With ID, Please
- From: kde@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- To: Scott Somershoe <ssomershoe@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 10:09:17 -0400 (EDT)
Agreed, worn adult Eastern Phoebe. Although, as shown in one of the
photos, the bird is preening and probably working its oil gland which is
under the area of gray feathers. So the gray feathers are simply the
insulating under-layer of body feathers which are normally hidden by the
outer layer of contour feathers (note their different structure).
Dean Edwards
Knoxville, TN
On Wed, 25 Jun 2014, Scott Somershoe wrote:
> Piping in late here, but I see this as a very worn adult Eastern Phoebe.
> Admittedly, I've never seen a phoebe this brown before, but there's a
> likely reason for this. A juvenile bird would have a much fresher plumage,
> very clean and sharp feathers, and at this time of year, buffy tips to the
> primary and greater coverts. And depending on how young the bird is, a
> little gape may be present.
>
> This bird has very uniform worn plumage, except for the gray patch on the
> back, which is likely freshly molted in feathers. Adult Eastern Phoebe's
> (like most adult flycatchers) do a complete molt of all feathers in summer
> and have no molt in winter, thus this bird is likely starting a complete
> molt. Knowing this about the molt of Phoebe's, we can then be pretty
> certain that the weathered, worn, and faded feathers were grown last summer
> and thus they have seen nearly a full year of sun and rain. Hatching year
> Phoebe's do a partial molt in summer, i.e. not replacing every feather like
> adults.
>
> Feathers, in all species, fade with time, and in this case, gray and black
> feathers turn more brown with exposure to the sun and elements. A similar
> example of feather wear and fading many of you may be familiar with is with
> the golden eagles I've shown during recent presentations and have posted on
> the golden eagle project page on the Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife web
> site. New golden eagle feathers are deep brown to chocolate colored, while
> old feathers are faded and almost tan and very worn and shredded. Molt in
> birds and ageing feathers, and subsequently ageing individual birds this
> way, is pretty neat stuff, but it can make your head spin!
>
> Very interesting bird and nice demonstration of age and molt! Nice thread.
>
> Cheers,
> Scott Somershoe
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 10:52 PM, Michael Todd <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
> > I see this as a very worn adult Eastern Phoebe, feathers in much too bad a
> > shape to be this years hatch. Definitely not your typical mental image of a
> > Phoebe, I don't see anything structurally though to give me a problem with
> > it being a Phoebe. Adult phoebes can look really rough this time of year,
> > before the post-breeding molt starts.
> >
> > Good Birding!
> >
> > Mike Todd
> > McKenzie, TN
> > birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > www.pbase.com/mctodd
> >
> >
> > On Tuesday, June 24, 2014 10:08 PM, Charles Crawford <cr4d@xxxxxxx>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > I?m going with Eastern Phoebe, Juv.
> > Crossley say juv. are browner.
> >
> > Charlie
> > Henderson KY
> >
> >
> > On Jun 24, 2014, at 9:17 PM, kristybaker@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > We seen this bird on Sunday at Murfree Springs in Murfreesboro. When I
> > first caught the bird out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was the
> > Flycatcher that is always in that area. When I actually turned to look at
> > it, I thought maybe it might be a Phoebe. (No tail wagging.)I moved
> > quickly because there was a nesting titmouse trying to feed its young and I
> > was getting a huge scolding for just stopping. When I look at the pictures
> > now, I don't know what it is. The color seems wrong. The gray spot - is
> > this just worn feathers?? Thanks for your help.
> >
> > http://www.pbase.com/kristybaker/image/156275439
> >
> > http://www.pbase.com/kristybaker/image/156275438
> >
> > Kristy Baker
> > Rockvale, TN
> > Rutherford County
> > www.pbase.com/kristybaker
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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