Subject: [Tweeters] Swan bill undersides
Date: Dec 29 08:53:43 2006
From: sgmlod at aol.com - sgmlod at aol.com


Greetings All

The yellow on the underside of the bill is quite apparent on this Whooper and is typical of that species, as others have pointed out.

A brief article in Birding many years ago suggested that as a possible mark for separating Bewick's from Whistling. I've seen a weak line under the bill of every Bewick's I've seen (about 4), but I've also seen this on an occasional Whistling. I've never seen a Whistling with a underbill stripe as bold as that of the Whooper, but then again, separating Whooper from Whistling is hardly a challenge.

Cheers
Steven Mlodinow
Everett WA
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