ML489673361
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Found by Kim Berry as a Godwit with a black tail. It was assumed to be a Marbled Godwit; however, the “black tail” description raised other possibilities Scope views showed that the bird did not have the warm, peachy orange plumage of a Marbled Godwit. The bill looked shorter and straighter and the overall size of the bird seemed a bit smaller. In profile, we could see a black tail and, occasionally a white patch above the tail negating Marbled Godwit. Both were more obvious when the bird was preening. Overall, coloration was a dull, grayish brown. A bold, white supercilium went from forward of the eye to just past the eye, gradually fading/narrowing from front to back. The scapulars and mantle area were only slightly more colorful and had some flecking of black, and paler coloring on the feathers; the coverts and tertials were the same dull gray-brown of the body. The gray-brown plumage shaded the breast in a faint but discernible “bib”. The belly and flanks were lighter but also dull gray-brown. The head appeared to have a bit of a “cap” of reddish brown. Wings were dark and when stretched during preening, a distinct, long white stripe on the upper surface was seen. Legs were black. Initial thoughts were of a Black-tailed Godwit; however, referring to a field guide and a shorebird guide we realized Hudsonian Godwit was also a possibility. The determining factor, became the dark underwing lining with a white outer band. We finally saw this field mark when the bird flew a short distance, landed, and raised its wings overhead briefly and conclusively identified it as a Hudsonian Godwit.
Technical information
- Camera
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 19.63 MB