Kristin asked -

> I'll take that as an invitation to quit lurking in the shadows and join in
> on the conversation .... My first sighting of 97 was an American Dipper
> I've been trying to ID at a rushing creek. Caught sight of its brown hood,
> plump body and short tail as it bobbed in and out of the creek, but don't
> know if male/female. I haven't yet heard anybody mention these, nor have I
> seen them on any CBCs ... anybody else seeing them?

There is no plumage difference between male and female American Dippers so
you wouldn't be able to tell anyway. The female also sings, albeit a
shorter version of the male's song, so a dipper singing is not necessarily
a male. The latest "Birds of North America" account of dippers is chock full
of interesting data such as the fact that dippers sing most frequently
immediately after feeding the chicks from a position near the nest. It is
thought that this helps with imprinting the song on the young birds. They
also sing less frequently throughout the year. Dippers only make short
migrations downriver if and when cold weather freezes their natal streams
(although young birds likely travel more widely as they get booted off the
home range by the adults). So one would assume that there would be a lot of
recent widespread movement give the cold snap.

> A newcomer's question, too: is it time for me to buy a new guide, or is
> there another name for a Spotted Towhee (not listed in my Audobon Field
> Guide)? Are these the same as Rufous Sided?

Yes, the western half of the Rufous-sided Towhee was recently renamed Spotted
Towhee in deference to its spotted wing coverts, different song, and (mostly)
disjunct range.

> Also, does anybody have any advice on how to tell Greater from Lesser
> Scaup? I see a group pretty regularly, with many males & females, but I
> feel wholly incapable of declaring "greater" or "lesser". Thanks so much
> for any advice.

Scaup differentiation comes only with lots of practise. My best suggestion to
you would be to contact the local Central Okanagan Naturalists Club in Kelowna
and get some of them to take you down to the waterfront where you can discuss
the various plumage and structural differences in situ. I would phone Chris
Charlesworth in Rutland at 765-6048. Tell him I sent you!

cheers,
Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca