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Diver - Poland (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter AGDK
- Start date
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Yes, both Red-throated; the upper left bird still has some summer plumage feathering, the lower all winter (or juvenile) plumage.
SteveClifton
Well-known member
All 3 are Red-throats.
Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
I think the upper left bird is a first winter Red-throated.
The darkish neck is still ok for the most marked first winter birds of Red-throated (i think the colouration is pronounced because of the unsharpness of the picture), the other bird seems to be an adult bird (not so sure, because first winter birds can sometimes look similar to this bird)
The darkish neck is still ok for the most marked first winter birds of Red-throated (i think the colouration is pronounced because of the unsharpness of the picture), the other bird seems to be an adult bird (not so sure, because first winter birds can sometimes look similar to this bird)
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Slender, up-tilted bill, same as in the 2nd bird, and also the same overall size. Blackthroat would be distinctively larger and with an obviously heavier bill.
Thanks!
SteveClifton
Well-known member
I take the general point about size and structural differences, but given that there is a 4cm overlap in size between a larger RTD and a smaller BTD, I'm not sure I'd want to make the distinction on field views, or from the image in post 1 based purely on size.
Similarly, slim-billed BT Divers exist, like the one in this link. https://www.alamy.com/parelduiker-in-vlucht-black-throated-diver-gavia-arctica-in-flight-image177669982.html This bird could even be said to have a slight up-turn to the bill, only subtly less so than on some Red-throats. I do agree however, that the subject bird's bill is upturned enough to be safely in the RTD zone, but to the untrained eye this can be tricky to judge.
I think that one of the best features with this bird is the combination of white chin and throat, and dusky fore-neck (which blends in nicely with the rest of the head and neck-and with no obviously contrasting dark throat which would indicate an adult of either sp). This combination is unique to 1cy RTD (ignoring the two larger diver sp.) as Alexander has already said above.
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rollingthunder
Well-known member
The bill is a very distinct feature captured nicely in the first image:t:
Laurie -
Laurie -
