ML172144101

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Full video from which these screencaps were taken is here: https://youtu.be/WHBw-i-hwM8 Upon discussion with Yann Kolbeinsson and further research into plumage transitional states of Common Murre and Arctic Loon, there is enough doubt here to let this one go. At the time I believed the bird was a distant Arctic Loon In basic or juvenile plumage. It had a COLO color scheme (ie darker above than RTLO) but with obviously pale gray (not brown) sheen on nape and white on rear flank above water (as RTLO), and lacked the typical Common Murre large amount of white all the way down the waterline from front to back. Its bill and neck were thicker than RTLO and the bill not held as high above horizontal while swimming as that species, but was held slightly above horizontal unlike COLO. The bird was smaller than COLO. The biggest problem with the identification as Arctic Loon is one field mark which appears in the freeze frames from my digiscoped video: an apparent wingbar in the proper position for Common Murre visible in some but not all of my frames. Arctic Loon apparently never shows this in any transitional plumage state (?). One final problem for a putative ID as Common Murre is the obvious presence of white from the chest up to the bill of the front or the neck. If this is normal for Common Murre it must be unusual or fleeting as I can't find a single photo showing this online. This is part of what gives the bird a loon impression. The Video was taken though bad heat haze probably upwards of 1km from shore. PALO eliminated by white above water on flank. RTLO by fields marks above. COLO by size, pale gray nape, bill held above horizontal. Common Murre not eliminated.

Technical information

Original file size

5.1 MB