Posted by Bill Leggett on January 1, 2013 at 3:59 PM
I captured this image this morning in Bayou Sauvage NWR in east New Orleans. For the last few years I've been seeing these in the refuge, and thought that they were the White-faced, but now I'm not so sure. I believe that this is a juvenile, and according to Sibleys the juvis are more difficult to distinguish. Sibley's map indicates that the Glossy is in this area year round. Your thoughts are appreciated.
Posted by Lance Warley on January 2, 2013 at 6:35 AM
I've never seen a White-faced in person, but I have seen Glossies grow from fledglings to mating colors. Here's a pic of a fledgling taking one of its first flights, with the individual white marks on its neck. I've also seen Glossies with the neck markings like the one you posted, but only when they had bands above and below their eyes.
So my brilliant response is, I don't know. I hope we have someone here who can spot a differentiating factor.
Posted by Lance Warley on January 2, 2013 at 6:38 AM
Here's a Glossy with similar neck markings to yours, but with sharper bands.
Posted by Nick Baldwin on January 2, 2013 at 9:44 AM
I have never seen the White-faced in the Big Bend of Fl. here is a fairly typical Glossy with some of those markings.
Great flight shot, Lance. (-:
Discussion
3 repliesSo my brilliant response is, I don't know. I hope we have someone here who can spot a differentiating factor.
Great flight shot, Lance. (-: