Posted by "GrrlScientist" on October 1, 2009 tags: White morph Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] White morph Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens, photographed at Smith Point, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 26 September 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/320s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Immature Little blue heron. Snowy egret would have yellow lores and immature Reddish egret would have a pink base to the bill.
The immature reddish egret white morph has the black bill and lores, but then so does the little and snowy juvenile, with that bit of grey too. The little shouldn’t be in Texas, but the snowy could be. The bill seems thick, so I’ll go with the immature reddish egret.
Thanks for posting these, I am not a detail person, and these mystery birds are all about the details!
It’s a Little Blue Heron immature. Note gray base to lower mandible and non-yellow lores.
It looks like the Reddish Egret Juvenile White Morph to me….(and to Sibley’s)
October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
October 2, 2009