tags: Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, photographed in Brazoria Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 10 March 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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A lovely Pied-billed Grebe! The shorter, deeper bill and the more uniform colour of the plumage distinguishes this from our other common grebes.
Visible in this shot is an exquisitely lobe-toed grebe foot - no webbing there. The position and orientation of the legs are hallmarks of an accomplished diver.
The call is a wonder.
While I didn't have a clue what yesterday's crash-silhouette was (an owl, I expect), I'm pretty sure this is a non-breeding adult Pied-billed Grebe. Short bill, a hint of a band on the bill. The fluffy sort of plummage is grebe-like.
Nice shot of those cute little lobed toes!
I say non-breeding pied-billed grebe, mostly because of the lack of a pale neck, and overall brownish color.