Posted by Justin Miller on January 01, 1970 at 00:00:00
Thank you Joseph. I hadn't considered staining, though someone else mentioned that possibility to me on a forum when I asked about this bird, mentioning that sandhill cranes sometimes stain this color. I agree that the genetic explanation doesn't seem too believable because of the upper part of the neck which is the more typical buff color...and I was dubious on this being a hybrid or exotic like an 'anhinga rufa' since it didn't have any sign of the white striping and the black around the face seems more in line with our anhinga anhingas.