Sunday, April 11, 2010

Bird ID Challenge # 4


This photo was taken this month in San Luis Obispo County, coastal California. Please let me know your ID and supporting reasons by clicking on "comments" below and posting. I will post the ID on Wednesday evening, in the comments section.

5 comments:

  1. Pied-billed Grebe. Pale short, thick bill with black stripe. Small brownish body. Unmistakable eye look. Very tricky pose, Jim. Usually seen about to submerge.

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  2. Dark line through the bill, brown color, and the fact that it is in the water tells me this bird is a Pied-billed Grebe.

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  3. The bill is clearly not right for a duck or most other swimming birds. The short thick light bill with a black ring (pied), short neck, plain brownish color, black throat and compact shape make this a breeding plumage Pied-billed Grebe. The odd pose apparently did not fool anyone.

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