joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
Some people say this is a female Red-winged Blackbird...I have even seen that claim in some reference material.
I am not an Ornithologist, not even a layman expert, but I live within a stone's throw of a waterway system where the birds are abundant.
This is my 25th season of photographing them and I have come to believe this is a stage of a juvenile male transitioning into its adult colors.
Regardless of gender, it's my favorite version.
davidrb
Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
Merlin Bird app shows your bird as a female red wing blackbird. They offer no photo of immature birds of either sex. IMHO your photo is a much better representation than the photo in Merlin Bird.
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
davidrb wrote:
Merlin Bird app shows your bird as a female red wing blackbird. They offer no photo of immature birds of either sex. IMHO your photo is a much better representation than the photo in Merlin Bird.
As I mentioned, some reference material is wrong.
Females and juveniles are the same, then how do males come about? They don't just appear suddenly. It's a gradual process of molting, twice each year.
I would love to hear from someone who did not get their knowledge from a book.
joecichjr
Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
joer wrote:
Some people say this is a female Red-winged Blackbird...I have even seen that claim in some reference material.
I am not an Ornithologist, not even a layman expert, but I live within a stone's throw of a waterway system where the birds are abundant.
This is my 25th season of photographing them and I have come to believe this is a stage of a juvenile male transitioning into its adult colors.
Regardless of gender, it's my favorite version.
Everybody is involved in transitioning these days...🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
No comment on the species/gender but 👍👍👍 on the capture.
davidrb
Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
joer wrote:
As I mentioned, some reference material is wrong.
Females and juveniles are the same, then how do males come about? They don't just appear suddenly. It's a gradual process of molting, twice each year.
I would love to hear from someone who did not get their knowledge from a book.
You pay attention to the Democratic National Party? Education is far more beneficial when it comes from the books you so detest. It is far more accurate than street jive.
I agree. The beautiful markings appeal to me more that the mature males.
I too have come to the same conclusion! On some of mine I can see two faint Red patches starting to show through. This is by observation the last 5 years & thinking the same...they have to transition slowly to the mature colors. Striking aren't they?
joer wrote:
As I mentioned, some reference material is wrong.
Females and juveniles are the same, then how do males come about? They don't just appear suddenly. It's a gradual process of molting, twice each year.
I would love to hear from someone who did not get their knowledge from a book.
There is a FB group called "What Bird is This?" When you submit an image of a bird with an inquiry about its identity, you are asked to provide date and location information. You will get responses from folks who are long time birders.
For what it is worth, I think this is a female red-winged blackbird.
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
davidrb wrote:
You pay attention to the Democratic National Party? Education is far more beneficial when it comes from the books you so detest. It is far more accurate than street jive.
I don't detest books, but because something is written doesn't make it accurate.
So I pulled out my trusty Smithsonian "Birds Of North America, Eastern Regions," page 690, first paragraph toward the middle bottom half, "Male resemble females at a year old but have less streaking and have some red in their epaulettes, they develop glossy black plumage after their second year."
See you were wrong, I don't detest books.
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