Sorry for the confusion but additional consideration and observations support the identification of this meadowlark as Lilian’s after all. See closeup photo (no yellow in Malar) from Joe Kipper’s May 17 eBird submission here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69200228?view=audio. The audio file in the original EBird report has now completed processing so that is available for public consumption as well. (Link below).
The photo I had seen showing yellow in malar was highly cropped and possibly attributed to photographic artifact. Furthermore some yellow in malar would not necessarily exclude pure Lilian’s. A hybrid would be even less likely than pure Lilian’s and would be tough to prove. Nick Komar Fort Collins CO > On May 17, 2020, at 10:16 AM, Nicholas Komar <quetza...@comcast.net> wrote: > > > Further study of Loveland meadowlark suggests hybrid based on yellow of > throat extending to malar region, while vocalizations match Lilian's Eastern > Meadowlark. Better photos were obtained by Joe Kipper and Kevin Keirn this > morning. Apologies for posting misleading report. Still a very interesting > bird. The original eBird report can be viewed here: > https://ebird.org/checklist/S69200399. > > Nick Komar > Fort Collins CO > >>> On May 16, 2020, at 9:22 AM, Nicholas Komar <quetza...@comcast.net> wrote: >>> >> Lillian's Eastern Meadowlark singing territorially northeast of Bud Mielke >> reservoir in Loveland this morning. No tapes please as it is likely trying >> to breed here. I'll post recording of song and call to eBird tonight. >> Bobolink also present. Access on closed county road by foot, south of >> Cattail Pond, off CR19. >> Lillian’s Meadowlark appears like Wesfern but lacks yellow on malar. A >> telescope is helpful to view this character. >> >> Nick Komar and Joe Kipper >> Fort Collins -- 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 cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/32674756-D2EB-4803-A4CD-8348B346CF4D%40comcast.net.
