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Graphic - bird ID in Wakodahatchee

I didn't want to include the photo directly into the thread as some may not like graphic content - so I'll just post links to it in my gallery. I encountered an alligator who had scored a bird for dinner, but was trying to figure out what type of bird it was. My first thought was great egret, due to the yellow bill, but they usually don't have the yellow legs that bright, and it was too small unless it was a juvie - then I thought maybe a cattle egret - but again, awfully yellow bill so that didn't fit. I thought tricolor heron due to the white under-wing feathers and darker top wing...but all of the tricolors I'm seeing around here are either in full blue-bill breeding colors or juveniles which have dark bills and legs. So if anyone can figure out what bird is being eaten - I went with tricolor in my description for now as it was about as close as I could figure - I'd appreciate it.

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/165435677/original

Comments

Hansel
over 7 years ago

I would agree with tri-colored. Nice shot!

Justin Miller
over 7 years ago

Thank you. It was hard to tell as it was so wet and already fairly well torn up...and since the tricolors are almost all darker billed or more blue right now it was hard to determine - but I think had I been able to see the top of the bill there may have been some darker color and the underside was confusing it. He was about 20 feet away from where 6 or 7 tricolor nests full of chicks are located.

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