gular fluttering
This behavior is called gular fluttering, a method some species use to cool themselves.
At least that's what I have found thru a good source and long time birder.
Yoga
Well at least with Yoga, we can understand...
I know Vultures here do it especially in the cold weather with their backs to the sun, to warm themselves. At least it seems that way, since I see them first thing in the mornings and then they seem to want to soar more after sunning...
The link in the first post shows the pose. Usually when I see cormorants do it, they stand with the sun at their backs and wings extended (like vultures do). This heron was fully upright facing into the sun, so the extended wings (full underside) were exposed to the sun, along with the full...
We frequently have Great Blue Herons at our pond, but this is the first time I have ever seen one perched in a tree. These birds remind me of old men when they are sitting along a shoreline.
Thanks for the praise. I posted in the bird ID forum and it seems split between Lesser & Greater. Certainly Lesser would be common here, not Greater, but it looks like Greater to me (a novice)...
Aythya affinis or marila. There's some debate about her species ID, but not about the fact that she's female. That much we are sure of. Photographed on a small pond near us, she came down during a strong wind and stayed the day with us.
Well, how about Scaup sp.
From what I read it takes a lot of time to learn the differences and normal variances make it even harder. I don't have a problem with that really. I see the same thing with a couple of species of butterfly, where visual inspections can't always tell the exact species.
Thanks, the local Audubon expert also just told me it was a Greater, so I think everyone is right.
Much appreciated!
Yes, the nail looks light and not defined, but the shot wasn't at the right angle and the camera/photographer isn't up to par...:-O
I have several photos of a female scaup that landed on our pond today. I feel it is a Greater Scaup, due to the wide & thick bill, as well as the seemingly larger "nail" on the tip of the bill. I am still not sure since I just do not get to see them often.
Any help would be appreciated.|=)|
I...
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