Loon ID please？ SW China (1 Viewer)

[metroplex]

This bird was discovered in the Yangtz River in Chongqing, Southwest of China in recent days.

 

[Butty]

Back-pattern says it's a red-throated diver - even though other things (especially bill-shape) say otherwise.

 

[metroplex]

Back-pattern says it's a red-throated diver - even though other things (especially bill-shape) say otherwise.

That‘s why it is confused to me, red like back pattern and black like bill shape.

 

[Butty]

Maybe because it's a 1st-year (red-throat). Dunno.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Wei,
I agree with you and Butty, that this is a 1cy RTD. Everything is there.
Imo the explanation for the slightly unusual bill shape is

• the thickness is at the large end of variation for a RTD
• I think I can make out a very slight deformation of the bill, therefore it cant close it completly, leaving a very slight gap.

But I can make out the slight gonys-angle at the lower mandible, resulting in the impression of an upturned bill. Imagine, you would see this bird at long range where you can just make an ID nearly by jizz and shape(= normal observation of a Diver). I assume=hope, that this bird would give an uptiltet bill-impression, adding to RTD-jizz (yes thats whishfull thinking at its best)

I cant make this bird into an other species, because it looks so good for a 1 cy RTD.
Yes, there a rare RTD x BTD according to literature and I would like to learn if this is one. Because even after a second look, I agree this bird must be a 1cy RTD

 

[THE_FERN]

(Just noting we had a near-identical individual in a recent thread. Perhaps this is a more common plumage than I thought)

 

[pianoman]

In pics 2 and 4 the bill is very slightly open, making it look a little larger