Date: 2/20/25 6:56 pm From: Hugh Ranson via groups.io <zonetail1...> Subject: [sbcobirding] More on Chat
Hi, all,
There was another response to my post on Advanced Bird ID on Facebook, this one from Johanna Beam
Hi all, I work extensively on these birds (unpublished, as of yet), and confidently say this is a typical auricollis (western) bird. The malar does look a bit compressed, and while this is sometimes a solid ID trait, with cryptic subspecies such as these, it is best to rely on multiple traits for a definitive ID. The back is quite gray, with no green and no green extending up on to the head as with a virens. The bill is also narrow in depth, another feature of auricollis. This bird appears to be young with that light color in the bill as well. All in all, I see this as a western auricollis bird.
David Sibley responded, "Thanks for this, I happily defer to your expertise, and I'm very interested to know about the difference in bill shape - something new to look for!"
