Re: [cobirds] Re: Mexican, Mallard, Mottled?

[Jack Bushong]

Hi all,

Thought I’d throw in my two cents on this bird given that it seems to have 
become a popular topic of discussion. Thank you to Sally Waterhouse for 
bringing this bird to Cobirds so it can reach a broader audience. 

I presume that the bird I documented on December 29 is the same bird that 
has been subsequently seen by Sally Waterhouse and Greg Mihalik. In the 
field, this bird looked like a classic male Mexican Duck (MEDU), and I 
maintain that identification after reviewing photos by others.

This bird demonstrates all of the characteristics of a pure male MEDU, 
including dark body plumage, strong contrast between the breast and neck, 
fine gray streaking on the face, internal markings on the body feathers, 
and a dark brown tail and undertail coverts. The speculum is also fairly 
typical of MEDU (and is generally not the most reliable field mark for 
separating MEDU from MALL anyways as there is some variability/overlap). 
When I observed this bird in flight, its speculum was bright turquoise, but 
in this photo (ML406400291 Mallard/Mexican Duck Macaulay Library 
), it appears more 
purplish-blue. That is to be expected as the apparent color of the speculum 
can change drastically depending on the light conditions. Another possible 
point of contention is that in this photo (ML405633971 Mallard/Mexican Duck 
Macaulay Library ), the edges 
of the tail appear rather pale. However, this is sometimes true of MEDU 
when viewed from the side. More important is that, when the tail is fanned 
out, as seen in this photo (ML406400291 Mallard/Mexican Duck Macaulay 
Library ), it reveals a 
classic MEDU tail pattern with very little if any white. While it is 
impossible to say without genetic analysis that this bird’s genome doesn’t 
have a trace of MALL influence, I would expect a MALL x MEDU to have some 
combination of paler body plumage, less contrast between the breast and 
neck, green in the head, white in the tail and undertail coverts, black 
uppertail coverts, and curved tail feathers. 

As for the possibility that this bird is a MEDU x MODU, I would expect such 
a hybrid combination to have a more prominent black gape spot, as male MEDU 
often exhibit a small amount of black/dusky near the gape as seen in these 
birds: ML85267311 Mexican Duck Macaulay Library 
, ML402523711 Mexican Duck 
Macaulay Library , ML404334831 
Mexican Duck Macaulay Library . 
Also, a MEDU x MODU hybrid would likely have a paler, buffier face, whereas 
this bird has a colder, dirtier face due to numerous fine dark streaks. I 
would also expect to see thinner white borders to the trailing and leading 
edge of the speculum if this were a MEDU x MODU. 

Thanks to all who read this lengthy response! It’s always fun to try and 
pin down the ID of these difficult birds. 


Regards, 

Jack Bushong

Louisville, CO/Hanover, NH


On Monday, January 17, 2022 at 12:14:32 PM UTC-5 Nick Komar wrote:

> I will go out on a limb and suggest that this is a candidate for Mexican x 
> Mottled based on the appearance of typical male Mexican Duck except for 
> three traits inherited from Mottled Duck: moderate black gape spot, purple 
> tinge to blue speculum, and buff patch on throat. Are these all within the 
> range of variation for Mexican Duck - possibly (I don’t know). I suggest 
> posting to the bird hybrids facebook page for more opinions. 
>
> Nick Komar
> Fort Collins CO
>
> On Jan 16, 2022, at 1:05 PM, Sally Waterhouse  wrote:
>
> New photo showing speculum of same bird in question  
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S100849831  To me the speculum looks like 
> typical Mallard. 
>
> Sally Waterhouse
> Nathrop, CO
>
> On Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 8:19:57 AM UTC-7 Sally Waterhouse wrote:
>
>> Looking for some thoughts on this.  The duck has been observed by several 
>> birders in Chaffee County just west of the 163 pond hotspot in a small pond 
>> area.  Whether this is the same duck reported as a Mexican on Dec. 29 by 
>> Jack Bushong on 163 pond is unknown.  After perusing many discussions about 
>> this "complex" I'm curious as to what people may think about this 
>> individual.  See photos on my ebird checklist 
>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S100712744 and also on Greg Mihalik's 
>> checklist https://ebird.org/checklist/S100667677.  Looking more closely 
>> at photos I realized that there is also a dark gape spot just to add to the 
>> question.  So far, no speculum photos.
>> Sally Waterhouse
>> Nathrop, Chaffee County
>>
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[cobirds] South Platte Problems :(

[Luke Pheneger]

Hi all,


Just a warning for those birding the location listed on ebird as South
Platte at Sand Creek Mouth. Ben and I stopped there for a little yesterday
and in the 45 minutes we were there his catalytic converter got stolen.


I suppose this might not be surprising to most, but some might find this
useful.


Luke Pheneger

Longmont

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[cobirds] Potential New Birding Location(?)/Weld

['The Nunn Guy' via Colorado Birds]

Hi all

Just saw this ... on GOCO site:

"Shurview/Missile Site Bluffs Open Space, $1,500,000 to The Trust for 
Public Land 

The grant will help the Trust for Public Land, the City of Greeley, and the 
Town of Windsor conserve the 978-acre Shurview/Missile Site Bluffs 
property, located between Windsor and Greeley along Highway 257 in Weld 
County. This property is the last remaining large parcel of land with 
significant conservation value along this corridor, providing a buffer and 
scenic views for the communities. It houses a range of wildlife species and 
also plays an important role in managing storm water and irrigation runoff 
and preventing soil erosion. The Shurview acquisition is expected to close 
in March 2022."
Thanks
Gary Lefko, Nunn
https://www.friendsofthepawneegrassland.org/
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-and-more-of-the-pawnee-national-grassland

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[cobirds] MLK Day and Raptor Alley

['The Nunn Guy' via Colorado Birds]

Hi all

Not as exciting as that robin but :-) ... zero wind on Raptor Alley 

 
which is always great for birds. Nine raptor species, 40 total birds.

   - Bald Eagle - 6 (one pair at two-year old nest at CR 102/19)
   - Prairie Falcon - 2
   - Rough-legged Hawk - 7 (one dark morph)
   - Red-tailed Hawk - 6
   - American Kestrel - 7
   - Ferruginous Hawk - 5 (one dark morph)
   - Merlin - 2
   - Golden Eagle - 4 (one exhibiting a lot of white feathers)
   - Northern Harrier - 1

First 32 photos here: 

   - 
   https://www.friendsofthepawneegrassland.org/albums/view/30/raptor-alley-nunn

Thanks
Gary Lefko, Nunn
https://www.friendsofthepawneegrassland.org/
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-and-more-of-the-pawnee-national-grassland

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[cobirds] RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN at Denny Lake Park in MONTEZUMA COUNTY

[John Malenich]

Since no one has yet posted this here, I thought I'd share this tremendous 
news.   The incomparable Coen Dexter and Brenda Wright discovered a 
RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN at Denny Lake Park in Cortez in MONTEZUMA COUNTY this 
morning. 

Checklist and photos: 
https://ebird.org/checklist/S100994031?fbclid=IwAR3wNeWGJHpugX0bD92bme35lBt3Orpv2Q1j7BaFSPc21149EDRaRhNfOs4

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[cobirds] Bird Conservancy Bald Eagle Walks at Barr Lake

[Tyler Cash]

Hello CO Birders!

Are you looking to get out of the house and find some birds?! Join Bird 
Conservancy Educators as we explore Barr Lake searching for Bald Eagles! We 
will learn all about their history at Barr Lake and the amazing adaptations 
that help them survive during the winter. Some days there can be upwards of 
100 Bald Eagles spotted! We will provide binoculars and field guides as 
requested. Follow this LINK 
 to 
register. Walks are on Saturdays from 10am - 12pm through February. Check 
our Events Calendar 
 to find a 
date that works for you!

All Bald Eagle walks will begin at the Nature Center at Barr Lake State 
Park. Please note that a $9 Daily or Annual Colorado State Parks Pass is 
required for entry into the park at all times.

Registration is required and space is limited to 10 participants!* All ages 
welcome.

Cost: $7/person. Scholarships are available. Please apply before 
registering if you need one! Follow this LINK 
 to 
apply. 

*Registration closes on Friday at 12pm before each program.

Happy birding,

Tyler Cash

Camp Manager

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

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[cobirds] Colorado Christmas Bird Count results so far

[Brandon]

So far, with results from 32 Colorado Christmas Bird Counts entered into
the CBC Website we have 193 count day species, and three others for count
week only. I think we are certainly on the way to 200+ species again this
year, with many count results still coming in.

To see results from any count, go to
https://netapp.audubon.org/CBCObservation/CurrentYear/ResultsByCount.aspx
then click on Country and enter Unitied States, and then click on State and
enter Colorado, and all the counts will come up.

If you see any errors on any counts from Colorado from this winter, please
let me know, so I look into them. I haven't actually counted all the
species reported, for each count yet, if I get a different total, than what
is being reported, I will be contacting compilers, to see if something is
missing on the list, as sometimes the number entered, doesn't save, so the
species total reported can be different, than what is on the CBC website.

Brandon Percival
Colorado CBC Regional Editor
Pueblo West, CO

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