Piranga tanager, Xpujil (Campeche, Mexico), today (1 Viewer)

[Valéry Schollaert]

Hi all,

Summer Tanager is common here in Xpujil (Mexico) during migration, and I identified this one as such in the field. On the photos, though, it looks much browner than on all other photos of the species I have. I also noted than from a photo to another, this individual look greener/yellower (on the left) or more orange/brown (on the right).

It seems clear to me it is a juvenile. I'd like to be sure that is a Summer Tanager of did I miss something ? Is it possible to know if it is a male or a female ?

Thank you very much for your input !

 

[THE_FERN]

Sorry for being dense, but I don't understand the images. Is the bird you're asking about the one in the middle, and did you intend to duplicate the picture?

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Sorry for being dense, but I don't understand the images. Is the bird you're asking about the one in the middle, and did you intend to duplicate the picture?

There are 3 photos of the same individual. No, the image appeared twice, not sure why. I will try to edit.

 

[THE_FERN]

There are 3 photos of the same individual. No, the image appeared twice, not sure why. I will try to edit.

The variation we can see in apparent colour is almost certainly due to differences in ambient lighting. In the latter 2 images the (grey) wire has a distinctly reddish tinge to it (to my eye), so image 1 appears the most representative. On that basis, I don't see anything particularly unusual here.

it is a juvenile

If you say so... [why? 'coz fresh?] As to sex... ...Best guess is female. Just because the colour is so uniform. Usually some hint of red emerging somewhere on males.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

The variation we can see in apparent colour is almost certainly due to differences in ambient lighting. In the latter 2 images the (grey) wire has a distinctly reddish tinge to it (to my eye), so image 1 appears the most representative. On that basis, I don't see anything particularly unusual here.


If you say so... [why? 'coz fresh?] As to sex... ...Best guess is female. Just because the colour is so uniform. Usually some hint of red emerging somewhere on males.

I said juvie because of bare gape, but glad to learn if I'm wrong.

 

[THE_FERN]

I said juvie because of bare gape, but glad to learn if I'm wrong.

I'm not really seeing that here: I'd usually see a fleshy bit at the head end. I know at least one person who would insist on "immature" rather than "juvenile" for such a bird...

 

[Butty]

I agree with Fern that the colour-balance is wrong in pics 2-3, so I don't find anything problematic about the bird's colouring or 'differences' between the photos.

I know at least one person who would insist on "immature" rather than "juvenile" for such a bird

I don't see anything in the gape area of bill/face to suggest age. Defining immature v. juvenile is entirely about plumage and moult - bare parts do no more than give a clue to age.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

I'm not really seeing that here: I'd usually see a fleshy bit at the head end. I know at least one person who would insist on "immature" rather than "juvenile" for such a bird...

Indeed, immature is more appropriate, 1cy,

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

I agree with Fern that the colour-balance is wrong in pics 2-3, so I don't find anything problematic about the bird's colouring or 'differences' between the photos.

I don't see anything in the gape area of bill/face to suggest age. Defining immature v. juvenile is entirely about plumage and moult - bare parts do no more than give a clue to age.

Does it mean you agree it is a Summer Tanager, right ? Can we say 1cy female ?

 

[Butty]

It looks ok for summer tanager. I can't see any features that would permit ageing - which is not to say that there are no such features. (Fern has also not aged it.)

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

It looks ok for summer tanager. I can't see any features that would permit ageing - which is not to say that there are no such features. (Fern has also not aged it.)

OK thanks ; I like to have more that one opinion. I wish to use these photos to show how colours can look different with slight difference of light. All 3 photos were taken in less than one minute with the same settings and I didn't change the colour balance afterwards.

 

[Butty]

I wish to use these photos to show how colours can look different with slight difference of light

The differences aren't necessarily due to light at all but to the colour-balance imposed by the camera's firmware - which it may have chosen to do for reasons quite other than lighting. So I don't think these photos serve your purpose.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

The differences aren't necessarily due to light at all but to the colour-balance imposed by the camera's firmware - which it may have chosen to do for reasons quite other than lighting. So I don't think these photos serve your purpose.

It is precisely my purpose actually ; I meant " I wish to use these photos to show how colours can look different ON PHOTOS...".

 

[THE_FERN]

It is precisely my purpose actually ; I meant " I wish to use these photos to show how colours can look different ON PHOTOS...".

One thing you might want to do is to compare colours objectively using some software like Gimp. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some apparent contrast effects at work and some of the colours which look different are actually the same.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

One thing you might want to do is to compare colours objectively using some software like Gimp. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some apparent contrast effects at work and some of the colours which look different are actually the same.

I feel I really didn't explain my point well on this thread ! Sorry for that. Thanks all for your help.