Bob,

Yes, a very long viewing distance certainly complicates seperating out
rufous-morph females and 1st winter males. I clearly need to add Madge
and Burn's Waterfowl identification guide to my library as I've been
laboring under the impression that this was a fairly clearcut seperation
problem if given adequate views.

Dennis K Rockwell, Kennewick, Washington denniskrockwell at juno.com

On Mon, 29 Nov 1999 22:14:12 -0800 "Robert Sundstrom" <ixoreus at home.com>
writes:
>Dennis,
>Thanks for the reply. Sure, the Geo guide. My question about the
plumage was some reasonable uncertainty >based on a very long viewing
distance. There is also the question of just what month/degree of
plumage change
>the immature male in the Geo guide represents, which is very similar to
some males I have photographed at least >a month later in the winter.
September eclipse males (or perhaps males of the year) appearing in
Washington
>appear quite similar to rufous-morph females. The text of Madge and
Burn's Waterfowl paints a more complete >picture of plumage changes than
the Geo guide.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Dennis K Rockwell <denniskrockwell at juno.com>
>To: <ixoreus at home.com>
>Sent: Monday, November 29, 1999 4:12 PM
>Subject: Re: Green River Natural Resources Area (a.k.a Kent Ponds)
>11/28
>
>
>> On Mon, 29 Nov 1999 12:05:00 -0800 "Robert Sundstrom"
><ixoreus at home.com>
>> writes:
>>
>> >SNIP<
>> >there were three Eurasian Wigeons, two in adult male plumage and one
rufous-morph female (or is it perhaps >> >1st winter male?) plumage.
>> >SNIP<
>>
>> Bob,
>>
>> How good a look did you get at these EURASIAN WIGEONS? Do you have
the "National Geographic Field Guide >> to the Birds of North America"?
The illustrations on page 81 demonstrate that the difference between
"rufous
>> morph" female and 1st winter male EURASIAN WIGEON is actually quite
distinct. Having seen both myself, I can >> testify that the difference
is even more distinct with living birds than in these illustrations.
>>
>> Dennis K Rockwell Kennewick, Washington
denniskrockwell at juno.com

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