The MD/DC bird records committee studied Mountain Bluebird and Eastern Bluebird
skins at the 2009 skins workshop. For a write-up on the subject, you can view
the pdf online (page 15):
http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/rcskins2009.pdf
It is usually better to err on the side of caution when posting about possible
rarities in that if you don't let people know of the potential of a mega, it
might slip away undetected. There have been many false alarms over the years
with no hard feelings other than possibly a few dollars in wasted gas.
Tyler Bell
jtylerbell@xxxxxxxxx
California, Maryland
________________________________
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:18:28 -0400
From: Tim Hodge <tanagertim@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Mountain Bluebird identification
To: Va-bird Listserve <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
<CAOc+3nbzo6PpnReo_pXSKAQc-GbmZy0rO1_vd3RW93fepSgQkw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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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
