Bird in the air - Cape May NJ, USA (1 Viewer)

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plnelson

Active member

• Jun 20, 2008

• #1

This was a grab shot with a noisy digital camera, cropped and oversharpened, so the image quality is not up to my standards. It was taken near the beach in Cape May NJ in May. It's some common bird like a starling, but can someone confirm exactly what it is?

http://pnart.com/temp/DSC_0011aM.jpg

Thanks in advance.

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Jun 20, 2008

• #2

Actually, a not so common bird. I believe it is a Purple Martin. Juvenile or young female. Note the short curved bill, but relatively wide mouth and mildly forked tail.

Best,
Jim

 

Last edited: Jun 20, 2008

P

plnelson

Active member

• Jun 20, 2008

• #3

J. Moore said:

Actually, a not so common bird. I believe it is a Purple Martin. Juvenile or young female. Note the short curved bill, but relatively wide mouth and mildly forked tail.

Best,
Jim

Click to expand...

Thanks! That would be nice! I was trying to figure out why I was keeping that photo around (I took it a few years ago). There were purple martin houses in the vicinity but we didn't see any sign of occupancy at the time.

Here's a Jim Fenton photo of a purple martin in flight that seems to support your ID
http://i.pbase.com/v3/38/391838/2/46273278.PMFFlyR.jpg

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Jun 20, 2008

• #4

As Jim says, this is a Purple Martin. Nice. :t:

 

D

Dave B Smith

Well-known member

• Jun 20, 2008

• #5

And if that is one of your "junk" shots, we'd like to see some of your good ones! Agree on ID.

 

T

Terry O'Nolley

Cow-headed Jaybird

• Jun 21, 2008

• #6

Yes, looks good for a juvie Purple Martin.

 

C

ceasar

Well-known member

• Jun 21, 2008

• #7

Was down to Cape May and Cape May Point State Park in late April. There are a lot of Purple Martin houses there and they all seemed to be full. http://www.capemaytimes.com/birds/06-martins.htm
Bob

 

P

plnelson

Active member

• Jun 21, 2008

• #8

Dave B Smith said:

And if that is one of your "junk" shots, we'd like to see some of your good ones! Agree on ID.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I've started a page on my website where I'm adding some of my nature photos here. I have more that I haven't got around to putting up yet.

Note that I do a variety of photography, including studio still-life, fashion, stock, and other work (it's just a hobby) but that some parts of my portfolio are not "family friendly" or "work-safe" so exercise caution if you explore other parts of my website.