[Va-bird] "PHASE" was used in the early 80s; Winter Wren in Albemarle

From: MARLENECONDON@xxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 13:43:06 EST

Dear Jay,

Don't be so hard on yourself.  The Peterson, National Geographic, and  Golden
Guides from the early 80s used the word "phase", not "morph".  I  don't know
when the terminology changed, but it now makes more sense.

Also, I saw a Winter Wren along a stream in western Albemarle County on  Nov.
4.

Sincerely,
Marlene

Marlene A.  Condon (Author, The Nature-Friendly Garden, Stackpole Books,
2006)
Nature Writer/Photographer/Speaker
Crozet, VA 22932-2204
E-mail:  MARLENECONDON@xxxxxxx



Bob,

Since I am I believe the only one to post about morphs or  phases to the list
recently, I guess your comments arise from my postings.   Thank you for
correcting my improper use of vocabulary.  How STUPID,  STUPID, STUPID of me to
err
in such a way!!!  I will take this under  advisement immediately, and just be
happy I got to see the birds.

Jay  Keller,
Arlington

-----Original Message-----

From:  Icepeep@xxxxxxx
Sent: Nov 5, 2007 7:44 AM
To:  va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Va-bird] phase or morph

Hi  List,
   A phase in a bird is an occurrence of a plumage  in  a recurring cycle

changes. When a bird is in a plumage that it is going to keep, such as

blue

in a Snow Goose, it is not a phase. They call that a morph. David Sibley
refers to light or dark birds, such as Rough-legged Hawks, as simply light

dark.  That is even easier.

Bob Abrams
Head  of English Department
Harvard University
Cambridge,  Massachusetts

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[Va-bird] "PHASE" was used in the early 80s; Winter Wren in Albemarle

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