Hi all,
After discussion with others, I am not longer sure the bluebird is a
Mountain Bluebird. I was unfamiliar with the fact that first basic plumage
EABL can be gray, lacking any hint of orange and any breast spots. I recant
my original identification. For those interested, Jenny Gaden sent the photo
to experts, "Will Russell (now in Tuscon, an expert on juvenile birds and a
tour guide with Wings Birding Tours) and John Rowlett (a Charlottesville
resident and founder of Field Guides Birding Tours), to ask their thoughts
on the photo. Will said he could not identify the species from the photo
but confirmed it was a juvenile bluebird and would assume it was an Eastern.
John said it was a typical juvenile E. Bluebird (he grew up in Texas and
leads tours in the west as well as all over SA)."
Sorry for the false posting,
Tim Hodge
