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ID-FRONTIERS for June 18-24, 2006

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Messages are displayed in the order they were received.
 Subject From Date  Time 
 RFI: perceived natural size vs measured size on passerines  Martin Reid   Sun, 18 Jun 2006  6:32am 
 Dement'ev & Gladkov on gulls  Peter Pyle   Mon, 19 Jun 2006  10:13am 
 NEW OWL CD  Ian Paulsen   Mon, 19 Jun 2006  10:31am 
 Odd Loon  Mary Beth Stowe   Mon, 19 Jun 2006  4:39pm 
 Re: Odd Loon  Louis Bevier   Mon, 19 Jun 2006  7:37pm 
 Re: Odd Loon  Norman D.van Swelm  Tue, 20 Jun 2006  1:43am 
 Glaucous Gull variation  Lethaby, Nick  Tue, 20 Jun 2006  8:21am 
 Pectoral sac  Frode Falkenberg   Thu, 22 Jun 2006  1:52pm 
 Another Mystery Oriole in eastern PA  Dave DeReamus   Thu, 22 Jun 2006  7:44pm 
 Field Identification of Western Flycatcher variants  Arch McCallum   Fri, 23 Jun 2006  8:28am 
 Re: Pectoral sac  Rex Stanford   Fri, 23 Jun 2006  6:58pm 
 Re: Pectoral sac  Norman D.van Swelm  Sat, 24 Jun 2006  5:00am 
 Re: Pectoral sac (on migration)  Jean Iron   Sat, 24 Jun 2006  7:48am 
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[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: RFI: perceived natural size vs measured size on passerines From: Martin Reid <upupa(AT)AIRMAIL.NET> Date: 18 Jun 2006 6:32am Dear All, I am in the process of analyzing images (not mine) of a very rare flycatcher for Texas and the U.S. I have been able to obtain the actual perch that is in the photos, and thus able to estimate to a reasonable degree the size of the bird as it looks in the images - i.e. it's natural pose with the body at a steep angle (but obviously not vertical) and the head held with the bill roughly horizontally - but given the from-below view the photo perspective is rather different. My challenge is how to interpret that natural size and compare it to empirical data for the two contender species. From reading Banding books I gather that total length data are obtained by laying the live bird on its back on a rule, gently pressing the tail and underside of the bill down, and measuring from the tip of the bill to the tip of the longest retrix. Has anyone attempt to derive usable ratios of this "stretched-out" length quoted in all the books, compared to the apparent size of the naturally perched bird? Clearly this will vary depending on the typical perching traits of the species/family, but generally speaking, most Flycatchers adopt a similar posture, so I am wondering if there is any way to extrapolate such data?? For example, my mystery flycatcher seems to have a natural size of 5.5 - 5.7 inches, compared to the actual branch it is perched on. This is the size measured from the top of its head to the tip of its tail when viewed directly from the front (its head turned to the side somewhat) and at an angle created by taking the photo at roughly a 60 - 70 degree angle from below. I realise that all this is rather too vague to be precise, but the two possible contender species have "total lengths" of 5.25 - 6.2 inches, and 7.0 - 7.5 inches (using data from four references) - can anyone comment on this matter in general or this example in particular? Thanks, Martin -- Martin Reid San Antonio, Texas mailto:upupa(AT)airmail.net http://www.martinreid.com Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Dement'ev & Gladkov on gulls From: Peter Pyle <ppyle(AT)BIRDPOP.ORG> Date: 19 Jun 2006 10:13am Hi all - I recently had cause to browse through the gull accounts in: Dement'ev, G.P., and N.A. Gladkov, Eds. 1951. Birds of the Soviet Union. Vol. III. Sovetskaya Nauka, Moscow. [Isreal Program for Scientific Translations, 1969] For those interested in the plumages, molts, and taxonomy of gulls (anyone out there?) this may be an underutilized resource; I haven't noticed it mentioned on this list. They have full accounts for most or all Eurasian and some North American taxa, including accurate summaries of molts and plumages by age, figures of outer primary and tail patterns in 3-4 age groups each for breeding taxa, and full subspecific treatments including range maps (e.g., they recognize 12 subspecies of L. argentatus). Most of their information was collected in the 1920's-1940's and may represent distributions prior to colony expansion that began in the 1950's. Cheers Peter Pyle Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: NEW OWL CD From: Ian Paulsen <birdbooker(AT)ZIPCON.NET> Date: 19 Jun 2006 10:31am HI: Has anyone heard this CD: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/owl If so, what do you think of it? -- Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA A.K.A.: "Birdbooker" "Rallidae all the way!" Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Odd Loon From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl(AT)AOL.COM> Date: 19 Jun 2006 4:39pm Hi, all! I practically ran over a loon at Salton City on Monday, the 12th of June, that I initially thought was a first year Red-throated due to (what I thought looked like) the slender bill with a sharp gonydeal angle. Since then I've had some very good birders vote for Common and even Yellow-billed, in addition to more votes for Red-throated. I thought I'd throw it out to the group for discussion. The link to the photos is: http://miriameaglemon.com/photogallery/Loons%20to%20Pelicans.htm What do you think? Thanks in advance, Mary Beth Stowe San Diego, CA MiriamEagl(AT)aol.com www.miriameaglemon.com Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Re: Odd Loon From: Louis Bevier <lrbevier(AT)COLBY.EDU> Date: 19 Jun 2006 7:37pm Mary Beth Stowe's bird is a Common Loon that is just a year old. The shear bulk of the bird with its apparently huge bill suggests that species. The distinct upturned shape to the lower mandible is typical of young Common Loon but also suggests Yellow-billed Loon and along with the pale coloration is probably the main source of confusion here. The faint but definite pale indentation along the side of the neck, most noticeable in the second and third photos from the top of the page, narrows the possibilities to Common and Yellow-billed Loon and excludes Red-throated. The dark line along the culmen from its base to near the tip is typical of Common Loon. Yellow-billed Loon is always pale along the culmen on the distal half or more. The dark line along the cutting edges of the bill also identify the bird as a Common Loon. Yellow-billed is clear yellow or white there. The shape of the line along the cutting edges of Common Loon is quite straight, as on this bird; by contrast, Yellow-billed has the line along the rear of the cutting edges upturned, giving it the appearance of smiling. The feathering on the underside of the bill extends out to below the nostril on Yellow-billed, but, as can be seen in the photographs, falls short of that on Common. Also visible in some photographs are the uniformly dark shafts of the primaries, a diagnostic character of Common Loon; these shafts are pale with only a dark tip on Yellow-billed Loon. Louis Bevier Fairfield, ME Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Re: Odd Loon From: "Norman D.van Swelm" <Norman.vanswelm(AT)wxs.nl> Date: 20 Jun 2006 1:43am May I take it Mary Beth that this poor bird is still with you? In that case I advise to measure it and take it's weight and that'll do the trick! How rare is a Red-throated Diver in America anyway? Norman Mary Beth Stowe wrote: > I practically ran over a loon at Salton City on Monday, the 12th of June, > that I initially thought was a first year Red-throated due to (what I > thought > looked like) the slender bill with a sharp gonydeal angle. Since then > I've > had some very good birders vote for Common and even Yellow-billed, in > addition > to more votes for Red-throated. I thought I'd throw it out to the group > for > discussion. The link to the photos is: > > http://miriameaglemon.com/photogallery/Loons%20to%20Pelicans.htm > > What do you think? Thanks in advance, Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Glaucous Gull variation From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby(AT)TI.COM> Date: 20 Jun 2006 8:21am This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION---- All: =20 I realize that this is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question but I wanted to get opinions on Glaucous Gull variation in 1 + 2Y birds. There are a couple of photos in Maling Olson's book (photos 221, 222, 223, & 230 I believe) that show birds with indistinct tail band and slightly darker secondaries. In California, where we get a lot of hybrids, I have always regarded such birds as having some introgression of Herring Gull genes (probably 2nd or 3rd generation hybrids). I would be interested in others thoughts, especially those who see juv Glaucous gulls up around Barrow and other spots beyond the regular range of Herring Gulls. =20 Nick Lethaby DSP/BIOS Product Manager Software Development Systems Texas Instruments 805 562 5106 nlethaby(AT)ti.com =20 Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=3Dbirdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html ----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Pectoral sac From: Frode Falkenberg <frode.falkenberg(AT)SKOLELAB.UIB.NO> Date: 22 Jun 2006 1:52pm Hi all! A little background for the upcoming question: An adult Pectoral Sandpiper was found today near Bergen in western Norway. It was located in a marsh on the outer coastline, where species such as Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew and Redshank breed commonly. There are no Calidris-species breeding there. It was actually seen when chasing two Common Snipes. The bird has developed a big sac in its breast. All info I can find links this feature to males at their breeding grounds, used to make their characteristic booming-sounds. Have a look at the bird and its sac here: <http://cyberbirding.uib.no/photo/c_melanotos_02.php> My questions are: Is it known if Pectoral Sandpipers migrate with developed breast sacs? Could this indicate that the bird is territorial? Do first summer males develope such sacs? All the best, Frode Falkenberg www.cyberbirding.no Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Another Mystery Oriole in eastern PA From: Dave DeReamus <becard(AT)FAST.NET> Date: 22 Jun 2006 7:44pm Hi all, I am relaying this information for a friend that's without a computer right now. First, let me say that this person is a very good birder who has several nesting pairs of Orchard Orioles and a few Baltimore Orioles in her yard, so she's very familiar with all of their female and immature plumages. She swears that there's no way that this bird is either one of those two species. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a camera that can take bird photos, and the bird has only been seen for a few short moments on different days during this past week. She was able to study it just long enough to get the following details: 1) Its size is larger than an Orchard Oriole and slightly larger than a Baltimore. 2) The top of the head and the face is dark (black?). It's possible it could have a full black hood, but it has at least something to that effect. 3) It also has a black bib that comes to a point. 4) The wings are dark with no noticeable wingbars. 5) The upper back is greenish-yellow. 6) Here's an interesting thing: The tail is greenish-yellow with black outer tail feathers. She said she's seen this pattern well while it was in flight. I haven't found an example of this in any of my books. 7) As far as behavior, each time she saw it, it flew up from the ground and never went very high up in the trees (not more than 15 feet up). Near the spot where she's seen it, she has a mulberry tree that's been dropping mulberries, which may explain why the bird is on the ground? She got one of her best looks at it while it perched on a fence about 4 feet off the ground. She would really appreciate if anyone has any ideas of what kind of oriole this could be. A few of us have been looking for this bird with cameras ready but haven't seen it. Any suggestions? Please reply to me and I'll pass them on to her. Thanks and Good Birding, Dave DeReamus Compiler of the 'Eastern PA Birdline' Easton, PA becard(AT)fast.net My 'Eastern PA Birding' Website: http://www.users.fast.net/~becard/index.html Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Field Identification of Western Flycatcher variants From: Arch McCallum <archmcc(AT)QWEST.NET> Date: 23 Jun 2006 8:28am ----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION---- Hello to all, My subject line is something of an oxymoron, don't you think? There was an excellent discussion of WEFL identification on this list a few years back. It is a vexing subject, as is the taxonomic status of the various populations of the WEFL complex. Although I have been collecting and studying vocal samples in the Pacific Northwest for a couple of years, I don't have a solution to either problem. I do, however, want to point out an error that has come to my attention as a result of posting some preliminary results and observations to various regional lists. Some birders seem to think that if they hear a two-part male position note (mpn) they have a definitive COFL, and if the mpn is continuous the bird is PSFL. It's not that simple. The major problem may be pigeon-holing birds into two categories, the two nominal species. It appears to me, from visual inspection of spectrograms (I will take measurements some time in the future), that WEFL vocal samples are best sorted into three categories: PSFL from the crests of the Cascades and Sierras west, COFL from Utah east and south, and intermediate, which is everything in between the other two (with the possible exception of Wyoming/SD samples, which I haven't seen except in Ned Johnson's monograph). A second problem is that the mpn isn't definitive. Johnson didn't include it in his multivariate analyses with morphometric data, although he did later comment on it in various places. Unfortunately, the mpn doesn't seem to be well correlated with the song, which should be more nearly definitive. Specifically, I have recorded several birds in the intermediate area whose mpns seem good for COFL, but whose songs, especially phrase (syllable) 2, fall short of the UT/CO/NM standards for these sounds. The song should be more definitive, because it is used for mate selection (according to both Johnson and Ainsley). There are many mpns in the intermediate area that are continuous, but more COFL-like than PSFL-like in frequency contour. These are not good PSFL mpns. Moreover, as is often noted, some few birds are bilingual for the mpn. As Johnson noted in a letter somewhere, this is odd, but I have seen a recording that proves it in one instance. A third problem is confusing the mpn with song phrase 2. As Chris Benesh pointed out on this list several years ago, COFL phrase 2 is continuous while the mpn is discontinous. The opposite is true of coastal PSFL. Birds in the intermediate area have a discontinuous song phrase 2 that appears intermediate between the COFL and PSFL standards. Johnson appears to have considered this version of phrase 2 to be characteristic of COFL. Indeed, I have recorded it in New Mexico. WEFLs frequently call with song phrase 2 during the mid-morning hours. Indeed, in my experience, a bird calling rapidly (not a commmon behavior) is more likely to use song phrase 2 then the mpn. There is also a different sound, a simple rising tone, that is strung together quite rapidly during boundary disputes. I believe this was mentioned in one of the posts long ago. In summary, most of the trouble is provided by the birds, but it is exacerbated when observers rely on the mpn to the exclusion of the song, which contains much more information. I should add as a caveat that there is no demonstrated correlation between vocal variation and (directly measured) genetic variation in the Western Flycatcher complex. Someone needs to do that study. You can see and hear vocal samples at my website. It has a lot of discussion, but the only intermediate samples are from Oregon. I just returned from a recording trip to e. Washington, nw. Idaho, and ne. Oregon. I will get those samples up in late summer at the earliest. The songs of these birds were intermediate, not that different from the central Oregon birds. I leave tomorrow on a drive from OR to NM, and will record in Nevada and Utah along the way. I'm curious where the first sample of continuous song phrase 2 will come from. The website is http://www.appliedbioacoustics.com/research/wefl thanks, Arch McCallum Eugene, OR Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html ----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Re: Pectoral sac From: Rex Stanford <calidris(AT)MINDSPRING.COM> Date: 23 Jun 2006 6:58pm Frode Falkenberg asked, "Is it known if Pectoral Sandpipers migrate with developed breast sacs?" I cannot claim scientific expertise with regard to this species, and never having been on its breeding grounds, I have no idea of what proportion leave the breeding grounds with a conspicuous pectoral sac. I can report that of the very many Pectorals that I have observed over about 25 years on the northeast coast of the USA only one had a very highly developed, conspicuous, bulging and dangling pectoral sac. That striking individual was observed on July 31, 1990, on a barrier island off the south shore of Long Island, specifically at the Cedar Beach Overlook area in Suffolk County, New York. Rex Stanford Westbury, Long Island, NY ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frode Falkenberg" <frode.falkenberg(AT)SKOLELAB.UIB.NO> To: <BIRDWG01(AT)LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU> Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 4:51 PM Subject: [BIRDWG01] Pectoral sac > Hi all! > > A little background for the upcoming question: An adult Pectoral Sandpiper was > found today near Bergen in western Norway. It was located in a marsh on the > outer coastline, where species such as Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew and > Redshank breed commonly. There are no Calidris-species breeding there. It was > actually seen when chasing two Common Snipes. > > The bird has developed a big sac in its breast. All info I can find links this > feature to males at their breeding grounds, used to make their characteristic > booming-sounds. > > Have a look at the bird and its sac here: > <http://cyberbirding.uib.no/photo/c_melanotos_02.php> > > My questions are: Is it known if Pectoral Sandpipers migrate with developed > breast sacs? Could this indicate that the bird is territorial? Do first summer > males develope such sacs? > > All the best, > Frode Falkenberg > www.cyberbirding.no > > > Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html > Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Re: Pectoral sac From: "Norman D.van Swelm" <Norman.vanswelm(AT)wxs.nl> Date: 24 Jun 2006 5:00am Frode Falkenberg wrote: > The bird has developed a big sac in its breast. All info I can find links this > feature to males at their breeding grounds, used to make their > characteristic > booming-sounds. > > Have a look at the bird and its sac here: > <http://cyberbirding.uib.no/photo/c_melanotos_02.php> > > My questions are: Is it known if Pectoral Sandpipers migrate with > developed > breast sacs? Could this indicate that the bird is territorial? Do first > summer > males develope such sacs?< A few years ago I found four Pectorals here in The Netherlands in a group of Tundra Ringed Plovers Charadrius h.tundrae during May. They were running around highly agitated pushing the plovers aside while the males were displaying with puffed up breast sacs frequently. So the question to your first question is: yes! As my birds were still on migration, most likely heading for Taimyr, the answer to your second question must be: not necessarily. I can't answer the third question though your bird seems adult to me. Many waders bound to go north were stopped by a long spell of bad weather in the second half of May this year. Many are still around and won't make it to the tundra this summer. Your Pectoral may be one of them. Great picture Frode, look for Cox Snipes next year. Cheers, Norman Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ] Subject: Re: Pectoral sac (on migration) From: Jean Iron <jeaniron(AT)SYMPATICO.CA> Date: 24 Jun 2006 7:48am We've often seen southbound male Pectoral Sandpipers with obvious "sacs" in southern Ontario (Toronto - Lake Ontario) in mid-July. Male Pectorals migrate south before the females (females first in most shorebirds) when the young hatch. Some July males we've seen show a sagging lower neck bib (stretch marks), evidence that they recently were courting males. If you watch Pectorals closely this July, you should see some males still showing signs of sacs from immensely inflating their throats in courtship. Ron Pittaway & Jean Iron Toronto & Minden Ontario, Canada At 09:57 PM 6/23/2006 -0400, you wrote: >Frode Falkenberg asked, "Is it known if Pectoral Sandpipers migrate with >developed breast sacs?" I cannot claim scientific expertise with regard to >this species, and never having been on its breeding grounds, I have no idea >of >what proportion leave the breeding grounds with a conspicuous pectoral sac. >I can report that of the very many Pectorals that I have observed >over about 25 years on the northeast coast of the USA only one had a very >highly developed, conspicuous, bulging and dangling pectoral sac. That >striking individual was observed on July 31, 1990, on a barrier island off >the south shore of Long Island, specifically >at the Cedar Beach Overlook area in Suffolk County, New York. > >Rex Stanford >Westbury, Long Island, NY > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Frode Falkenberg" <frode.falkenberg(AT)SKOLELAB.UIB.NO> >To: <BIRDWG01(AT)LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU> >Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 4:51 PM >Subject: [BIRDWG01] Pectoral sac > > > > Hi all! > > > > A little background for the upcoming question: An adult Pectoral Sandpiper >was > > found today near Bergen in western Norway. It was located in a marsh on >the > > outer coastline, where species such as Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew and > > Redshank breed commonly. There are no Calidris-species breeding there. It >was > > actually seen when chasing two Common Snipes. > > > > The bird has developed a big sac in its breast. All info I can find links >this > > feature to males at their breeding grounds, used to make their >characteristic > > booming-sounds. > > > > Have a look at the bird and its sac here: > > <http://cyberbirding.uib.no/photo/c_melanotos_02.php> > > > > My questions are: Is it known if Pectoral Sandpipers migrate with >developed > > breast sacs? Could this indicate that the bird is territorial? Do first >summer > > males develope such sacs? > > > > All the best, > > Frode Falkenberg > > www.cyberbirding.no > > > > > > Join or Leave BIRDWG01: >http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 > > > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html > > > > >Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 > >Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html Join or Leave BIRDWG01: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html

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