Bird Board
I.D. Challenge
Posted by Toe
about 9 years ago
4 Comments
Here's a challenge to anyone brave enough to undertake it. This bird was seen about 15 minutes after sunset, hence the horrible light. But, there are two field marks which should tell you what it is. The tail streamers is one. Can you figure out the other?
Comments
The red snout?
Yes, the snout gives it away, but because of the size, not the color. Can you name the species?
Is that a red tailed tropicbird? The big beak would be a match. Do they stray here?
You got it! Red-tailed Tropicbird it is. But it did not stray here. This photo was taken about 15 minutes after sunset off the Na Pali Coast of Kaua'i, Hawaii while on a cruise with the family. As we passed Kilauea Pt., I could see dozens of R-T Tropicbirds near and on the cliffs, but it wasn't until after sunset that one came near the stern of the ship for a photo. Luckily that's exactly where I was standing. While this was a family vacation, I did manage to pick up a few life birds. Here's the list:
Hawaiian Petrel
Kermadec Petrel
Bulwer's Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Christmas Shearwater
Newell's Shearwater
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Great Frigatebird
White Tern
Hawaiian Goose (Nene)
Hawaiian Duck (Koloa)
Hawaiian Coot
Hawaiian Gallinule
'Apapane
And some introduced exotics
Red-crested Cardinal
Red-vented Bulbul
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Saffron Finch
Japanese White-eye
Java Sparrow
Some photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52157777@N05/
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