I'm getting hints of both eared and horned in this one. California
Posted Dec 10, 2021, 1:35 AM UTC
186
To me the darker bill and black below the eye would point towards an Eared Grebe, but I am wrong as often as I am right!
3
See, wrong as usual - when I posted didn't see any other comments by the pros!
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No problemo. I am justified in my confusion!
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Looks better for Horned to me. The white is relatively well-defined, and it has the larger bill.
Thanks! I was leaning that way, but it was traveling with an eared grebe and doesn't have the classic clear contrast, so I wanted to check.
Yeah, and I do see why it's confusing! It's definitely not that perfect crisp white border. I don't know how likely it is for them to hybridize so I won't suggest that straightaway, it's probably more likely it's just a younger Horned that doesn't have nice colors, but it's something I wonder about sometimes.