Hello again all,

Many thanks to the significant number of Tweeters who wrote to help ID the Seward Park merganser family. Overwhelmingly, though not universally, the vote was Common Merganser. Most people used the sharp line between brown head and light breast as their primary diagnostic tool, and several people pointed out that Red-breasteds are not known to breed here (which I should have immediately checked).

This is a great community, full of knowledgeable folks who are both generous and kind in sharing their knowledge.

Good Mother's Day birding to all,
Trileigh

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Trileigh Tucker
Lincoln Park, West Seattle
Naturalpresence.wordpress.com
Flickr.com/photos/trileigh


________________________________________
From: Tucker, Trileigh
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 9:29 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Merganser ID question

Hi Tweets,

In private messages, people have disagreed about whether the Seward Park merganser mother and brood are Common Mergansers or Red-breasted Mergansers, with some folks on either side. I'd welcome your comments and perspectives:

Closeup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/8730384740/in/photostream
Mother with brood: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/8730384548/in/photostream/

Thanks, as always, to this terrific birding community!

Cheers,
Trileigh

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Trileigh Tucker
Lincoln Park, West Seattle
Natural history blog: naturalpresence.wordpress.com
Photos: flickr.com/photos/trileigh