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Fetching Birds
| 2012 Calendars for birdlovers.
The Fall Shorebirds of Seapoint A primer with photographs for some of our migrating shorebirds. Subscribe to "You've
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Mysterious Puzzlebird Contest — January 2011 Last month's puzzlebirds were a mix of 3 fairly common late fall migrants one wouldn't be surprised to stumble across anywhere in New England. Winners this month (of either a 2012 Phillip's Fetching Birds or Birds of Earth calendar) was Rob Speirs for first set of 3 correct entries, and Don C. for the last correct set to arrive by email. Honorable mentions go to Susan Hunter, Sue McGrath, Ellen B., Brian Guzzetti, Naomi H., Michael Smith, Lori Conrad, Dave Booker, and Mary-Catherine Martin. Well done all! Here's the December breakdown, with the new puzzlebirds following immediately after.
A) is a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker adult male. Note the red throat, and the hint of yellow in the belly.
B) is an American Kestrel female. A male would have slatey-blue wings. A Merlin would have less distinct facial markings and less of a rusty-red cast especially in the tail, while a Peregrine Falcon would have a thicker and darker mustache, darker gray wings and back and tail, and wouldn't likely be perching on such a small twig.
C ) is a Hermit Thrush, sexes are indeterminate. A pic like this (which doesn't show the Hermit Thrush's reddish rump and tail from the top) makes it hard to distinguish from a Swainson's Thrush, but the Swainson's has a buffy face and buffy eye-ring. Now onto the new puzzle for January which includes 4 winter sea ducks, all of which are females. Nothing tricky, but not the easist birds to ID. Besides color and markings, look carefully at bill shapes!
There's a calendar prize for both the first and last set of correct answers to come in. Email your entry to puzzlebird@fetchingbirds.com by January 28th, 2012, and stay tuned to this page at the end of the month, or watch next month's Birdmail for the skinny. Please don't be offended if you don't hear back about your entry until then. If you've got any tough or tricky-to-ID bird photos, sequence shots, rare bird, or anything you think might make a good head-scratching contest for New England birders, guest puzzlographers are welcome to email photos for the monthly puzzlebird contest. If published, I can't pay you money, but I will send you a free 2012 calendar and provide a link to your website or photostream along with full photo credit. Photographers retain all copyright to their images. December's Bird of the Month (Home) © Copyright Phillip Augusta. All rights reserved. |
