I may have gotten myself into a bit of trouble with this eider and I apologize for the confusion and my own uncertainty as to the identification. I just received four of Garth Riley's close up photos which show the bird to have a key character which is in fact correct for Common Eider. This involves the feathering on the side of the bill and its relationship to the position of the nostril. His photos show that the distal end of the feathering is placed below the basal section of the nostril, not behind it as I had determined this morning. I had felt earlier today that the nostril was fairly well separated from the forward extension of the feathering, thus making me feel that the duck was a possible hybrid of King and Common Eiders. My confusion on this character might be explained due to the bird being in its first calendar year and that perhaps the bill side feathering was not developed as far forward as might be the case in some older female Commons. The apparent shape of the head with a slight effect of having a rise at the forehead did not look to me to be sloped enough for Common Eider. In examining Garth's photos and in searching the internet, the head shape on the Fifty Point bird is correct for Common. It now seems that my original, somewhat distant identification yesterday afternoon was correct, that of a Common Eider. The bill side feature, well seen in the photos, along with the correct shape to the head, have dispelled my earlier thoughts of the bird being a possible hybrid. Other features on the bird seem quite appropriate for a first winter female Common Eider as well.
Kevin McLaughlin. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
