>I spent 30 minutes or so Sunday afternoon studying it at up to 10 feet
>and must say I saw no chestnut on the nape and judged the wing bar to be
>buffy whitish formed by the tips of the median primary coverts. I could
>never see the belly that well so it just seemed smudged blackish in the
>center rather than barred (though I think I glimsped so barred effect on
>one occasion or another). It certainly seemed very plain about the face
>for an adult male, but I've never seen this plumage before...
>
>Gene Hunn

This difference in opinion between Gene and Russell about what they saw is
a beautiful example of how perception contributes so strongly to birding
(not to mention everyday life). Two careful observers with lengthy
"killer" views see the same bird somewhat differently. How often does this
happen? All the time? Was there are an original bias that slanted Russell
toward and Gene away from "adult male?" Way down in their respective
subconsciouses, did Russell "expect" the bird to be an adult male and Gene
an immature or female? Pretty unlikely, but if not, why did they see it
differently?

One answer has got to be our different perceptions of color. I truly
believe everyone sees color a little differently, first perhaps because of
our retinal/neural setup, and second because we probably even learn the
*names* of colors slightly differently.

While in our hotel dining room, having a leisurely dinner on the shore of
the Beagle Channel, just a week ago, three of us discussed the plumages of
a small group of Chilean Skuas resting on the grass outside the window (I
know I'm name-dropping). We couldn't agree on what color they were, which
one was redder or darker than the others, or hardly anything about them!!!
It left me flabbergasted (and actually a little shaken) that these two
otherwise reasonably intelligent and observant people didn't see these
birds exactly as I did! I'm sure the same thought was in each of their
minds.

Knowing this, bird-record committees should have a bit more sympathy for
birders, and birders should have a bit more sympathy for bird-record
committees.

Nice to be back and to see familiar names appearing on my screen again.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416