I've really been enjoying this series of shorebirds. I've been learning a lot about how to ID them, and hope I get this week's right. I figure I've got a 50-50 shot, since there are only two big, dark-colored herons, the great blue and the tricolored. I'm inclined to go with the Tricolored Heron, though. What do you think?
As always, have a fantasitic weekend and don't forget the creatures on the Friday Ark!
As always, have a fantasitic weekend and don't forget the creatures on the Friday Ark!
10 comments:
Based on plumage, I am inclined to agree with you. In the field, it is worth noting that tricolored herons are about half the size of great blue herons.
That one is a Great Blue heron. Their bills are yellowish-orange like this. The Tri-colored heron's bill is more of a bluish color, with black near the tip. There is a nice picture at http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/tricoloredheron.htm . They are both nice!
Nope. I'd ID that as a great blue. It's black eyebrow, and the lighter coloration on the neck sinches it for me. It looks like every other blue heron I've ever seen.
That being said, as John alludes to: Great Blue Herons are just that: GREAT. They are really big birds. The tricolor is listed as being around 2 feet tall - an admirably sized bird, but it wouldn't stand out as being huge, like a great blue does. (I agree with Rurality on the bill color.)
I think I better go back and take another look! ;-D I don't think it was huge, but my lack of experience with shorebirds should be taken into consideration...
Forgive the shameless self-promotion, but I think this one is a tri-colored heron, tho I have it mis-labeled as a multi-colored heron (for which there is no such thing).
It's a beautiful pic! Those babies are adorable! But now your tri-color is making me think that mine is a great blue...
I was wondering when Fletch would show up!
For some reason I can't see the link you posted at all, it comes up as a page of MySQL gobbledygook at 5:45 CST on Sunday evening, Fletch. Perhaps it's my firefox browser?
I'm getting the MySQL stuff too, though earlier today it was coming up just fine. Give it a little time -- the photo is worth the wait!
sorry about the problem. My host provider messed something up but it's fixed now. These type of problems always seem to occur when I advertise or shamelessly self-promote.
I think that shameless self-promotion is a good thing!
I can see the pic now - very nice! But I'm wondering why they call them "tri-colored", when they are so obviously BLUE.
Post a Comment