Intriguing photo from Boulder County. Seek opinions.

Joe Roller

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Oct 11, 2018, 4:02:01 PM10/11/18

to Colorado Birds, Dave Hyde

I received the photo (below) from Dave Hyde, taken in Nederland Oct 10, by a nameless photographer.

It's an intriguing bird, so I thought I'd share it on COBirds.

My first reaction was leucistic Dark-eyed Junco. Leucistic, not albino, based on

the dark iris and black on wings. Albino would be all white and have a pink iris. However (by coincidence I think),

it does come close to what a breeding plumage McKay's Bunting would look like!

Why is it not a McKay's Bunting? That species molts to non-breeding plumage in August, per Sibley,

plus it's an Alaskan bird with only a few reports from the coast of Washington and Oregon (per

eBird) and I see no reports from farther south or east of there.

Snow and McKay's Buntings have dinky, dark bills, and the mystery bird shows a larger, pale bill,

compatible with leucistic junco.

THANKS, Dave, for presenting this puzzle.

Joe Roller, Denver

Erik Hendrickson

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Oct 12, 2018, 4:03:29 PM10/12/18

to Colorado Birds

Another comparison photo

mcbunt 3.jpg

McKay's Bunting, Kenai/Soldotna Cannery Flats, 12/26/2011

Erik Hendrickson

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Oct 12, 2018, 4:03:29 PM10/12/18

to Colorado Birds

McKay's Bunting, Kenai/Soldotna Cannery Flats, 12/26/2011

mcbunt 2.jpg

On Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 2:02:01 PM UTC-6, Joe Roller wrote:

John Vanderpoel

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Oct 12, 2018, 5:41:52 PM10/12/18

to erik.hend...@gmail.com, Colorado Birds

The bill color is wrong. McCay’s have a dark bill.

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 12, 2018, at 12:36 PM, Erik Hendrickson <erik.hend...@gmail.com> wrote:

<mcbunt.jpg>
McKay's Bunting, Kenai/Soldotna Cannery Flats, 12/26/2011

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