eye test (can you identify these birds by their eyes alone? (1 Viewer)

[onlybill]

I've noticed that many of the wading and shorebirds in the southern United States have very distinctive eyes. I've assembled a collection of twelve from my photographs. Can you identify the birds they belong to?

 

[On-Firecrest]

2- Tricoloured Heron
9- Black crowned Night Heron

 

[Progne Subis]

4 - White Ibis?
6 - Brown Pelican
7 - Double-crested Cormorant
8 - American Oystercatcher
10 - Yellow-crowned Night-heron
11 - Great Egret?
11 - Reddish Egret?

 

[onlybill]

Still four unidentified

On-Firecrest you are correct with 2 being a tricolored heron and 9 being a Black-crowned Night Heron. - The tricolored was tricky. Good job.
Progne Subis ~You obviously know your birds! You are correct on 4(white ibis),6(brown pelican) 7(double-crested cormorant) 8(American Oystercatcher) 10 (Yellow-crowned Night Heron). 11 was indeed a great egret. Your first guess was correct. Care to venture a guess on 1, 3, 5, and 12?

 

[Progne Subis]

Is 12 not a Reddish Egret? I accidentally said 11 in my first post...

 

[onlybill]

not a reddish egret

a hint; 12 is the one that is not a wading or shorebird- although he looks like he could be. One more hint: 5 and 7 share something in common.

 

[Birdbrainjwc]

5-Anhinga??

 

[onlybill]

Correct! 5 is an Anhinga

Very good identification. The similarity between #5 (Anhinga) and #7 (cormorant) is that both lack the oil glands to make their feathers waterproof, so making submersion in water easier. Both can be seen with outstretched wings drying them.
Alright, that leaves #1, #3, and #12.

 

[Jacana]

#1 roseate spoonbill?

 

[onlybill]

no, #1 is not a roseate spoonbill

if you think I'm going to tell you that if you changed #1 to #? you would be correct, you are crazy

 

[wee kayso]

1]Little Blue Heron

 

[onlybill]

not a little blue heron

however, you are very close

 

[Birdbrainjwc]

Number 3 is a Roseate Spoonbill.

 

[onlybill]

Correct! #3 is a Roseate Spoonbill

Good job Birdbrainjwc.
Now that leaves #1 and #12. Remember I said one bird was the only one showing breeding colors. Some birds actually change eye color during this mating season. For example the male Great Egret not only gets a green facial coloration, but the eyes become red! See what I mean in this crop from one of my photos.

 

[goshawk227]

12 is Snowy Egret I think, and 1 is not sure, Great Blue?

 

[onlybill]

#12 is not a snowy egret

goshawk227 - You might be close to being correct with #1.
Let me sum up what I've revealed on #12.
1)It is not a wading or shore bird, but it looks like it could be
2)The eye color is only seen during breeding season.
and few more hints: It is a male and in it's normal coloration could easily be confused with a very common wading bird

 

[Kite]

#12 - Cattle Egret?

 

[onlybill]

Yes!!! #12 is a Cattle Egret

Excellent Kit!


#12 is a male cattle egret showing breeding colors. I was starting to think no one would ever figure it out.

That only leaves #1, and someone has just about (but not quite) identified it already.

 

[Birdbrainjwc]

American Bittern?

 

[onlybill]

no American Bittern

The only one not identified is #1. Among the previous posts the correct answer
was partially given, and I'm sure that many know the bird by that shortened name, however I need the whole name.

Once I have the last one identified, I'll post the next 12.
~onlybill