Date: 2/20/25 7:47 pm From: Joe Morlan via groups.io <jmorlan...> Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] More on Chat
Hugh,
Some years ago I measured a bunch of YB Chats collected in Arizona and they
all had the tail shorter than the wing. Ridgway had that in his key for
the eastern race which they are not. My conclusion was that there needs to
be a more comprehensive study of geographic variation in this species.
Perhaps that is in the works.
On Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:56:16 -0800, "Hugh Ranson via groups.io"
<zonetail1...> wrote:
>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I work extensively on these birds (unpublished, as of yet), and confidently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!"
>
>So, more to ponder and more learning to do!
>
>Hugh Ranson
>SB
>
>
>
>
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA
