Outstanding Jeff, great details and a very nice background.
Harry http://behret.smugmug.com/NANPA member How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Great shot Jeff! I think he's a western, but still working on his color.
Joel has a good point but I am still not sur it's a female the head has a lot of blue --darn birds need a nameplate thanks very happy with this shot it was very dark in the tree
According to my Sibley book, what you have there is a female, Bright adult, Western Bluebird.
Cheers,
-joel
you may be right but after reading this I did some more looking and the female has no blue on the head [as I read it ] but again you may be right -id is a big pain in the --refer to Harrys post thanks see you in march
Great composition and pose for the bird. I love bluebirds. Here in Texas we only have the eastern variety except for far west Texas I suppose.
thanks I was happy --no very happy with this one it was dark in the tree and I had time to take about 6 shots and I kept moving this was the last shot and my only blue bird -I have tried many times but failed :cry thanks again
Outstanding Jeff, great details and a very nice background.
thanks Harry but I can not take credit for the background that is william telling me lets go that aint not raptor but I am very pleased with this one :ivar
Joel has a good point but I am still not sur it's a female the head has a lot of blue --darn birds need a nameplate thanks very happy with this shot it was very dark in the tree
She's a he! (definetly a westie) Female is more gray overall. Not that much blue, and orange.
But males have a blue throat, which this one definitely does not. :nono
Female Western Bluebird
Most birds come into their breeding color through wear and tear. As the lighter feather edges wear away the color is revealed. You can start to see the blue color appearing under the throat on Jeff's photo.
The Sibley Guide to Birds, page 400 shows that there are two variants of the western blue, a drab and a bright.
Yours looks exactly like the female drab western blue. Jeff's looks exactly like a female bright western blue. Juvie's are spotted and look totally different.
I'm sure you know a lot more about these birds than I do. However, I think you may be used to the drab bluebird, while Jeff's is a bright. Hence the confusion.
Edit: BTW, Sibley also notes that the male has a blue belly, which Jeff's definitely does not. Here's a shot of a male from the Cornell ornithology website.
The Sibley Guide to Birds, page 400 shows that there are two variants of the western blue, a drab and a bright.
Yours looks exactly like the female drab western blue. Jeff's looks exactly like a female bright western blue. Juvie's are spotted and look totally different.
I'm sure you know a lot more about these birds than I do. However, I think you may be used to the drab bluebird, while Jeff's is a bright. Hence the confusion.
Edit: BTW, Sibley also notes that the male has a blue belly, which Jeff's definitely does not. Here's a shot of a male from the Cornell ornithology website.
Cheers,
-joel
I don't have Sibley Guide with me, but check and see if the bright female has gray on the back below the head, or orange then blue. That would be the key.
I don't have Sibley Guide with me, but check and see if the bright female has gray on the back below the head, or orange then blue. That would be the key.
They don't really call out that distinction. However, the pictures show that the female's back is somewhat gray, turning to darker blue as it progress down on the wings by her sides. The picture of the male shows dark blue and orange, with no gray. There is text that explains "some have entirely chestnut backs, others nearly all-blue." Jeff's bird's back is in the shadow, which doesn't help. But it looks like it has some gray to me.
At any rate, if you do get a copy of the book and compare the picture of the female to Jeff's bird, you'll see what I mean.
They don't really call out that distinction. However, the pictures show that the female's back is somewhat gray, turning to darker blue as it progress down on the wings by her sides. The picture of the male shows dark blue and orange, with no gray. There is text that explains "some have entirely chestnut backs, others nearly all-blue." Jeff's bird's back is in the shadow, which doesn't help. But it looks like it has some gray to me.
At any rate, if you do get a copy of the book and compare the picture of the female to Jeff's bird, you'll see what I mean.
-joel
I'll take a look tonight when I get home! Another distinction would be the wings gray for the female, and blue for the male. I think we can both agree that it is a bluebird.
BTW this bird was hanging out with the female I posted earlier!
After looking at the bird books last night I realised the obvious difference between the males, and females is the white eye-ring!
Dallas got a hold of me and has the shot from the other side --I think this will help after he posts it --I am going with a male the head is more blue and I think you will see it in his shot or Joel will have to get more proof I told you if they are not stars then they need to have name tags
Really nice detail and exposure Jeff (can't comment on the ID as it's a bit out of my range )
thanks alot Al --the picture taking is easy it's that dam Iding that is hard some birds with the age and season ect hard to have an id we know its a western blue bird thanks again
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According to my Sibley book, what you have there is a female, Bright adult, Western Bluebird.
Cheers,
-joel
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She's a he! (definetly a westie)
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Female Western Bluebird
Most birds come into their breeding color through wear and tear. As the lighter feather edges wear away the color is revealed. You can start to see the blue color appearing under the throat on Jeff's photo.
My website | NANPA Member
The Sibley Guide to Birds, page 400 shows that there are two variants of the western blue, a drab and a bright.
Yours looks exactly like the female drab western blue. Jeff's looks exactly like a female bright western blue. Juvie's are spotted and look totally different.
I'm sure you know a lot more about these birds than I do. However, I think you may be used to the drab bluebird, while Jeff's is a bright. Hence the confusion.
Edit: BTW, Sibley also notes that the male has a blue belly, which Jeff's definitely does not. Here's a shot of a male from the Cornell ornithology website.
Cheers,
-joel
Link to my Smugmug site
I don't have Sibley Guide with me, but check and see if the bright female has gray on the back below the head, or orange then blue. That would be the key.
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At any rate, if you do get a copy of the book and compare the picture of the female to Jeff's bird, you'll see what I mean.
-joel
Link to my Smugmug site
I'll take a look tonight when I get home! Another distinction would be the wings gray for the female, and blue for the male. I think we can both agree that it is a bluebird.
BTW this bird was hanging out with the female I posted earlier!
After looking at the bird books last night I realised the obvious difference between the males, and females is the white eye-ring!
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I'll have to take your word on that!
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