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Posted by Bill Pranty on 02:58:26 01/09/07
In Reply to: Re: Enhanced Photo of Alleged Mountain Bluebird posted by Larry Berk
Good morning all,
Well first of all, the honeycreeper photo is a very large file (a 9-minute download for those of us with dial-up).
Initially, I didn't understand why we were discussing Red-legged Honeycreeper until I realized that that species was being considered for the Fort Myers bird. I hadn't considered a honeycreeper as a candidate since a nectar-eating bird would never approach a bird feeder --especially one filled with popcorn.
Red-legged Honeycreeper can be ruled out by plumage features (it's a deep-blue color overall, unlike the bright azure of the Fort Myers bird with clearly paler underparts) and the lack of black wings, mantle, and eye-patch. The posture is also wrong for honeycreeper. I can't explain why the legs of the Fort Myers bird appear to be reddish, but I never considered them to be that color in life.
I'm still trying to reconcile the ID (on other Florida Internet lists) of the Fort Myers bird as a Gray Catbird, given that catbirds are wholly dark-gray, and the Fort Myers bird appears to have underparts much lighter than the upperparts. But given the caliber of those making the ID as a catbird, it must be a consideration.
It seems worth pointing out that we may never know the identity of this bird for certain, given that the bird seems to be gone and only one very blurry photo was obtained.
A posting to ID Frontiers likely would result in a lack on concensus.
I sense that some people are getting defensive about the ID, but there's no need for this; I'm for one enjoying the discussion even as I am stumped on what the bird is.
I still think it's an interesting bird, but one that probably "got away." Even though there are few contenders based on the (apparent) plumage coloration of the Fort Myers bird, potential vagaries in lighting and image processing may be leading us very astray. Especially if it is a Gray Catbird!
Best regards,
Bill Pranty
Bayonet Point, Florida
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