Mystery Bird Found Dead in Texas--Alcid?
A reader sent me this link to the Victoria Advocate in Texas about a weird bird found dead on the side of the road. At first the people who found it thought that the dead bird was a penguin but after consulting with people at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department it was decided that it might be a loon. I think it's some kind of alcid, but then again I am a land locked Minnesotan with not a lot of experience with seabirds. Any guesses from you guys? Any Texas birders read the blog, have there been any discussions about a mystery bird on the side of the road?
posted by birdchick at 7:45 AM
8 Comments:
My instant gut reaction to the photo was common murre. I have no idea how likely that is in Texas.
Migration is going on so anything is possible, I don't think we can use maps as a guide for this id. It's very likely that this is a first year bird that got WAY off course. I wondered about common murre too.
I want to see more pictures! The article said they took pictures from all angles. There's no way a complete amatuer like me could figure it out from just the one shot with the article. :(
~Other Sharon
I emailed the newspaper, we'll see if I can get them.
Yeah, more pictures would help. The bill doesn't look right for a loon. Also, I'd expect a loon this time of year to be further along in its molt, but I could be wrong.
So, I just got this response from the Advocate:
"Dear madam,
That's the only picture of the bird we have. Sorry. You are welcome to share the story though, you just need to credit the Victoria Advocate.
Thanks,
Rebecca Holm"
I sent them an email that said even though I'm a birder, I'm only 32 so no need for "madam". I think the last time I was called that was when I was naughty as an eight year old and my mother said, "You're in big trouble, madam."
Hee hee.
Not loon, as far as I can see. Bill definitely not right. Doesn't give me a grebe "feel," either.
I agree, something in the Auk (Alcid) family; I thought maybe Thick-billed, rather than Common, Murre from studying my western Peterson's field guide. More pictures would be a plus.
Whatever it is, it was really lost!
If Birdchick is a "Madame" what does that make the rest of us? Her stable of girls (and boys)?
~Kathi
Hey, Birdchick! It's great to see the blog back up and running.
I'm fairly certain this is an alcid and think it can only be one of a few. Thick-billed Murre should have a white line on the upper mandible, which the photo does clearly show. There would be a white line on the bill of a Razorbill also. Too big for Dovekie and the white on the throat probably rules out the Black Guillemot. So I think those who have said Common Murre are correct.
With love to Cinnamon, my little hero,
Dave
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