Mystery dead bird

[James CONNELL]

Neighbor asked me what this dead bird was, didn't have a good answer and still don't.

I thought White winged Scoter but the bill is long, narrow and has the serrated "teeth" of a fish eater.

Cherry Cr Res is about 2 miles away but there are nearby streams.

Breast was pure white but somewhat excavated.

Bird was about 15' long.

[James Connell]

 I hate to post this but a neighbor alerted me to a dead bird on our street.

I'm stumped, 1st guess was a white winged scoter till I looked them up and they have a much different bill.

This one is narrow, pointed and has the "teeth" on the bill pointing toward a fish eater.

Belly was pure white but had been sort of excavated.

The bird was about 15" long

I'm 2 miles from Cherry Creek Res, although there are streams in the area.

[Nathan Pieplow]

Hi James,

It's a female Hooded Merganser. Good job noticing the serrated bill. The pale brown bushy crest is another clincher.

Nathan Pieplow

Boulder

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[Caleb A]

Hi James!

I agree with Nathan. In addition to the thin, serrated bill and bushy crest, note the clean white chin and white wing patches, which are all consistent marks for female Hooded Merganser.

The birds are happy, and so am I

~Caleb Alons, Larimer County

[dgulb...@gmail.com]

Someone in my general neighborhood just posted about a dead Mallard found under

his vehicle in his driveway.  Hope this isn't a bird epidemic.