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 of
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 or
dark. That is even easier.
Bob Abrams
Head of English Department
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
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