Okay - a couple theories in so far: a melanistic bird (genetic mutation with excessive dark pigment), or an oiled bird. I learned there was an oiled bird seen a couple of weeks ago in the same location.
So as I strive to become a better birder, I am curious to learn how those of you with more decades under your belt decide what is going on with this bird. I notice this bird seems to have darker legs than a regular American Avocet. Are the legs colored when they are oiled? Overall, it does look pretty much like a regular Avocet except for the coloring. The hybrids I found online were with BNST, and it obviously isn't one of those. Do Avocets not mix with any other species? So much to learn. That's part of what makes birding so much fun. Thank you for the emails and the ideas! Donna Stumpp Jefferson County On Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 5:23:27 PM UTC-6 Donna Stumpp wrote: > I was out at Stearns Lake this afternoon and saw a very dark > Avocet-looking bird in the pond on the west side, which is Broomfield > County. Below are a couple of photos. I then birded Stearns Lake in Boulder > County and saw it fly over along with the 7 Avocets it was with at the pond. > > The other Avocets would at times chase this bird, and it would at times > chase the others. They didn't seem to be comfortable being very close to > each other. > > It appears to be a hybrid since none of the field guides show Avocets of > any age or gender with this coloring. I'm hoping for ideas on what it is > mixed with, and/or a recommendation for a website to help me figure that > out. > > Thanks, > Donna Stumpp > Jefferson County[image: 5-5 Avocet hybrid - Stearns Lake.jpeg] > [image: 5-5 Avocet hybrid b.jpeg] > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2802b396-3134-422a-9216-ac1cd957c9fan%40googlegroups.com.
