Jim F.
Still a Genuine Montana Fossil
Thanks, John! Very special!Guess I'll sneak this in here. Hope you can see this without a paywall-worked for me.
Thanks, John! Very special!Guess I'll sneak this in here. Hope you can see this without a paywall-worked for me.
I really think that the atypical bird is a Pacific golden plover. The white spots on the feathers. especially on the side and on the wing feathers (see here), are distinctly different from the black-bellied plovers. For the definitive proof, you want to see their wing-pits. Black-bellied plovers have black pits.Black-bellied Plovers, though one looked a bit different, I’m not confident enough to say it was different that the other couple hundred of them (left bird in first photo, middle bird in second photo)View attachment 35836View attachment 35835
Interesting. I was thinking if it wasn’t a Black-bellied, it would be an American Golden Plover. For context, an American and a Pacific Golden were seen with this flock yesterday (some photos of those individuals here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S120108145). The coloring of the Pacific seems to stand out a lot more than the bird in my photos. Also, I’m not sure the bird in my photos was as noticeably smaller, and the bill still feels a bit heavy for either of the Goldens.I really think that the atypical bird is a Pacific golden plover. The white spots on the feathers. especially on the side and on the wing feathers (see here), are distinctly different from the black-bellied plovers. For the definitive proof, you want to see their wing-pits. Black-bellied plovers have black pits.
Steve
I wonder how reliable bill size is; I suspect that there is overlap. Both of the golden plovers appear to have distinctive darker cap and white eye brow. And this bird has not developed that yet. I really don't think that it is a black-bellied but I wouldn't bet the mortgage on American vs. Pacific golden plover.Interesting. I was thinking if it wasn’t a Black-bellied, it would be an American Golden Plover. For context, an American and a Pacific Golden were seen with this flock yesterday (some photos of those individuals here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S120108145). The coloring of the Pacific seems to stand out a lot more than the bird in my photos. Also, I’m not sure the bird in my photos was as noticeably smaller, and the bill still feels a bit heavy for either of the Goldens.
This is good input. I’ve got votes from two other birders that it is just a black-bellied, but I’m waiting on some others to weigh in. If it does turn out to be identifiable as one of the goldens, that would be cool as it would be a new bird for me.I wonder how reliable bill size is; I suspect that there is overlap. Both of the golden plovers appear to have distinctive darker cap and white eye brow. And this bird has not developed that yet. I really don't think that it is a black-bellied but I wouldn't bet the mortgage on American vs. Pacific golden plover.
Steve
I think the the middle bird is a red-bellied too.Three (tentative) woodys in the backyard:
Pileated:
View attachment 36150
Downy at about 200 yards:
View attachment 36149
Red bellied (This is the tentative, need a side or frontal shot):
View attachment 36151
Cheers
I think the the middle bird is a red-bellied too.
Steve
Not at allOh oh, are feeders cheating?
View attachment 36165
Maybe I need to start a new thread, "Visitors to the Feeder"
Cheers
... Dippers, Coastal cutthroat..cased caddis or October caddis are all a nice combo for a late fall day on a small stream with fly rod in hand. My favorite !