ML155184421
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Four 'typical' adults and one showing dark markings - photos in list and description below: Structurally, everything looked fine for a pure Snowy Egret: bill shape relatively short and dagger-like, not showing any droop or curved upper mandible as in Little Blue Heron, and too short for any Tricolored influence. Leg and neck length exactly as expect in SNEG. Bare parts also in line with what SNEGs show in late April: "golden slippers", yellowish lore were a shade darker than in summer (perhaps coming out of courtship colors). Recurved scapulars and a few large nuptial plumes; nape plumes also short and 'bushy' as expected in SNEG. Dark markings appeared fairly random, especially those on the left side of the head and back. Interestingly, the dark markings on the inner secondaries and greater secondary coverts (especially on the edge of the outer web) appeared fairly symmetrical. Tips of all rectrices also showed dark markings. Outer primaries pure white (another trait ruling out LBHE influence). Given the presence of multiple birds putatively identified as a Tricolored Heron x Snowy Egret (hybrids) being in the state for several years, it is hard to not wonder if the marking on this bird are somehow related to those white/blue birds. As stated, all physical traits seem to indicate a pure Snowy but I wonder what a backcrossed bird might look like... Alternatively, could this be some form of melanism? The coloration was fairly dark but seemed within the slate/blue spectrum as would see on Tricolored Heron or Little Blue Heron.
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens
- EF300mm f/4L IS USM
- ISO
- 250
- Focal length
- 300 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/4.0
- Shutter speed
- 1/400 sec
- Dimensions
- 1911 pixels x 1079 pixels
- Original file size
- 1.35 MB