new member - Green heron? (1 Viewer)

teach38

Active member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #1

Hi folks,
I'm an avid birder who just found this site, I'm excited to be a member. I also love photography and am often searching for assistance with bird identities (I said I was an avid birder, not an expert birder! ||). Anyway, I hope I can contribute and also hope for assistance with bird identification.

 

Last edited: Oct 2, 2009

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

Staff member

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Oct 2, 2009

• #2

Hi teach38 and welcome on behalf of the Staff and Moderators

I'm sorry I can't help with the ID, but I'll move your post to the ID forum, as I'm sure they'll soon have it sorted for you.

D

 

teach38

Active member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #3

delia todd said:

Hi teach38 and welcome on behalf of the Staff and Moderators

I'm sorry I can't help with the ID, but I'll move your post to the ID forum, as I'm sure they'll soon have it sorted for you.

D

Click to expand...

hello delia Todd, it looks like while I was editing my post, you were moving me to a different forum :-O
I had just found the forum in which identification pictures could be posted, so I'll get my pictures back up there.
thanks!

 

teach38

Active member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #4

okay, here are the two pictures. I believe this is a Green Heron, however I have a friend who thinks this may be an American Bittern. The field marks resemble to heron to me, but not necessarily an adult.
any thoughts?

 

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MLoyko

d[-_-]b

• Oct 2, 2009

• #5

Welcome to the forum,

What you have is a Green Heron.

-Matt

 

G

Gretchen

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #6

Though the reddish colored neck doesn't show very well in either picture, I think this is a green heron. It doesn't seem to have the white facial markings that a bittern would have.

PS welcome to the forum!

 

Last edited: Oct 2, 2009

teach38

Active member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #7

thanks folks! very much appreciated. Gretchen - could the coloration be lacking due to it being an immature?

 

james holdsworth

Consulting Biologist

• Oct 2, 2009

• #8

teach38 said:

thanks folks! very much appreciated. Gretchen - could the coloration be lacking due to it being an immature?

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Yes, it's an immature bird.

 

teach38

Active member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #9

thanks James!

 

G

Gretchen

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #10

I'm not very sure about it being immature actually. It seems like immatures have light spots on their wings and necks (e.g. the immature on this page) , whereas this bird's colors look pretty solid. I think the red neck doesn't show just because it's not extended and doesn't show well in the light.

 

MichelleOhio

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2009

• #11

Welcome to the forum, teach! I'm in SW Ohio and it's good to see another Ohioan. Quite a few of us around.

 

james holdsworth

Consulting Biologist

• Oct 2, 2009

• #12

Gretchen said:

I'm not very sure about it being immature actually. It seems like immatures have light spots on their wings and necks (e.g. the immature on this page) , whereas this bird's colors look pretty solid. I think the red neck doesn't show just because it's not extended and doesn't show well in the light.

Click to expand...

There is way too much streaking on the throat / breast for an adult and the overall colours too muted.

The spotting on the coverts and secondaries will diminish with wear, over time and I think that's what we are seeing in this bird.