If the bird looks normal In regard to shape and size and general color patterns (like the white patches on the closed wing; orange head and neck) it points away from a hybrid to a plumage abnormality or something in that realm.
David Suddjian Sent from my iPhone > On May 5, 2022, at 5:54 PM, Donna Stumpp <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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 >> > > -- > -- > 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. -- -- 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/D2BEE3F0-DB8F-45C5-B292-2FC716BB07E7%40gmail.com.
