NewMexiKen wrote:
> The new Hawk's Bluff Park in Batavia, Illinois (to be formally
> dedicated this weekend) has turned out to be a nice migrant trap.
> Over the past several days we have seen 9 warbler species (Yellow-
> rumped, Yellow, Nashville, Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided,
> Blackburnian, Magnolia, Black-and-White, American Redstart), plus
> other species as noted in my Blog today <
http://blog.rosyfinch.com>
> This Scarlet Tanager that I photographed there yesterday has its usual
> bright red plumage replaced by bright orange. At first I thought it
> was an oriole, but quickly noticed that the heavy bill and lack of
> wing bars characterize it as a Scarlet Tanager. The Sibley guide
> illustrates this color variant. The photo is cropped but not retouched
> or enhanced.
> See it at <http://blog.rosyfinch.com>
I think it could be that the feathers have not broken down to the to the
red yet. Scarlet Tanagers are one of the species where their breeding
plumage is developed through the disintegration of the feathers. These
birds are very dark over the winter and if you looked at the feathers in
the winter you would find the r4ed below the dark. It could also be
related to diet--no enough carotenoids-- just a SWAG. :)
--
Rick
Fargo, ND
N 46°53'251"
W 096°48'279"
Remember the USS Liberty
http://www.ussliberty.org/
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