Posted by Luke Ormand on December 22, 2009 at 8:08 PM
I heard a report that there was a Black Guillemot about 20 minutes away from me spotted during a CBC count. I had never heard of the bird before (don't consider myself a birder... just an avian photographer) and didn't think much of it. I took the day off to photograph in the snow before it all melts away, and saw another post that the bird was still present so I went out to see if I could get any decent photos of it as I won't be able to get out to take pictures again until the weekend.
Here is the photo of the Black Guillemot I took today (about 30% of original).
It was posted on a NY Bird listserv, and now a question has arisen as to its origins. The bird is extremely white (non-breeding plumage is usually characterized by a black/sooty back). In addition, the bill appears to be shorter than illustrated in 'Peterson's Field Guide to North American Birds'.
Allaboutbirds.com (run by Cornell) indicates that birds with dominant white plumage come from higher latitudes. So, it is being questioned if this is a bird from one of the Arctic breeding races(ultimus, arcticus, or mandtii) which apparently have never been documented in New York State before.
I'm far from an expert on this topic (example: when I arrived at the site I photographed a far off surf scoter believing this was the bird, since it was, well, black, until realizing the bird was actually considerably closer, and predominately white), but I also find it interesting that the bird was spotted in a narrow inlet into a shallow embayment in the Peconic Bay (Between the North and South Forks of Long Island, 4.5 miles over land from the Ocean).
Thanks to any and all who can offer any insight into this query!
- Luke
Posted by Luke Ormand on December 22, 2009 at 9:22 PM
A view from the other side - which doesn't show nearly as much black . . . odd.
Posted by Drew Fulton on December 23, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Luke,
I have very very little experience with this species and have never tried to identify to the subspecific level so I am just throwing out some thoughts after a few minutes of reading.
I have pulled up the species account on the Birds of North America (the much more indepth resource run by Cornell & the AOU from which Allaboutbirds.com is based). First off, the definition in subspecies in this species if rather difficult and controversial as proper comparative sampling is lacking. That being said, there seems to be two major groups as you have said, Arctic Breeders and those from farther south. Furthermore, some subspecies may not even be distinguishable in the field. It appears that the eastern group (sometimes called C. g. ultimus) of the subspecies C. g. mandatii could end up wintering in New England as there is a specimen from Massachusets from the beginning of the 1900s. Also, they are said to integrade with the more southern subspecies (C. g. arcticus). The two plumage descriptions are as follows:
C. g. mandatii/ultimus
"Greater wing-coverts white nearly to base; more extensive white in remiges; broader white tips to black-based dorsal feathers imparting overall whiter appearance in Basic plumage; and Juvenal plumage having white tips to secondaries, forming trailing white line to wing."
C. g. arcticus
Compared with C. g. mandtii, basal half at least of greater-coverts black; smaller white tips to dorsal feathering of Juvenal- and Basic-plumage birds imparts overall darker, more mottled appearance.
The basic idea that of the overall white/overall darker observation makes sense. Other than that, it is hard to make a judgement call when I don't have much experience for a comparison between birds.
Obviously other subspecies are out there and typically in the Pacific. I have ignored them for now as it seems unlikely but then again there was an Ancient Murrelet in Florida last week so you never know what will show up.
Regardless, not a bad find Luke. I'll pay attention to the NY State birdlist and follow the discussion.
Drew
Posted by bill meikle on December 23, 2009 at 10:16 AM
it looks like the Arctic adult non breeding version from my Sibley. Good catch.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on December 24, 2009 at 2:24 AM
Drew pulled the relevant stuff from BNA. We don't get either subspecies in Alaska, and certainly not in winter plumage, so I'm not much help. But based on the BNA accounts, I'd lean towards mandtii. I'm baffled by the differences in the sides; hard to believe it's the same bird. I have no idea what's going on; it's the kind of difference you typically only see in hybrids. If the NY State list provides any details, please pass them along.
Luke, I think you'd really like Birds of North America from Cornell. It's basically a summary of everything known about most of the breeding species in North America. Well worth the moderate subscription price.
Posted by Drew Fulton on December 24, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Jim,
I think the difference in the sides is the way the wing is held. The first image looks like the bird is stretching a bit, lowering the wing, which would reveal a different set of feathers. At least that is the only explanation I could come up with.
Drew
Posted by Luke Ormand on December 24, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Drew - I believe your right - the wing black is just hidden under the feathers, but things like this can really be tricky if you only get a glance at the bird. Luckily it's still (checked up on it this morning a little after sunrise) there so maybe it will be hanging out for awhile.
- Luke
Posted by Luke Ormand on December 24, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Bill,
This is actually a juvenile. This can be determined by the black markings on the wing which would be absent in an adult. Also, from my (extremely) limited experience, vagrants are often times juveniles. I assume this is because if a migrating bird makes its first migration correctly, it is less likely to be lost.
Discussion
7 repliesHere is the photo of the Black Guillemot I took today (about 30% of original).
It was posted on a NY Bird listserv, and now a question has arisen as to its origins. The bird is extremely white (non-breeding plumage is usually characterized by a black/sooty back). In addition, the bill appears to be shorter than illustrated in 'Peterson's Field Guide to North American Birds'.
Allaboutbirds.com (run by Cornell) indicates that birds with dominant white plumage come from higher latitudes. So, it is being questioned if this is a bird from one of the Arctic breeding races(ultimus, arcticus, or mandtii) which apparently have never been documented in New York State before.
I'm far from an expert on this topic (example: when I arrived at the site I photographed a far off surf scoter believing this was the bird, since it was, well, black, until realizing the bird was actually considerably closer, and predominately white), but I also find it interesting that the bird was spotted in a narrow inlet into a shallow embayment in the Peconic Bay (Between the North and South Forks of Long Island, 4.5 miles over land from the Ocean).
Thanks to any and all who can offer any insight into this query!
- Luke
I have very very little experience with this species and have never tried to identify to the subspecific level so I am just throwing out some thoughts after a few minutes of reading.
I have pulled up the species account on the Birds of North America (the much more indepth resource run by Cornell & the AOU from which Allaboutbirds.com is based). First off, the definition in subspecies in this species if rather difficult and controversial as proper comparative sampling is lacking. That being said, there seems to be two major groups as you have said, Arctic Breeders and those from farther south. Furthermore, some subspecies may not even be distinguishable in the field. It appears that the eastern group (sometimes called C. g. ultimus) of the subspecies C. g. mandatii could end up wintering in New England as there is a specimen from Massachusets from the beginning of the 1900s. Also, they are said to integrade with the more southern subspecies (C. g. arcticus). The two plumage descriptions are as follows:
C. g. mandatii/ultimus
"Greater wing-coverts white nearly to base; more extensive white in remiges; broader white tips to black-based dorsal feathers imparting overall whiter appearance in Basic plumage; and Juvenal plumage having white tips to secondaries, forming trailing white line to wing."
C. g. arcticus
Compared with C. g. mandtii, basal half at least of greater-coverts black; smaller white tips to dorsal feathering of Juvenal- and Basic-plumage birds imparts overall darker, more mottled appearance.
The basic idea that of the overall white/overall darker observation makes sense. Other than that, it is hard to make a judgement call when I don't have much experience for a comparison between birds.
Obviously other subspecies are out there and typically in the Pacific. I have ignored them for now as it seems unlikely but then again there was an Ancient Murrelet in Florida last week so you never know what will show up.
Regardless, not a bad find Luke. I'll pay attention to the NY State birdlist and follow the discussion.
Drew
Luke, I think you'd really like Birds of North America from Cornell. It's basically a summary of everything known about most of the breeding species in North America. Well worth the moderate subscription price.
I think the difference in the sides is the way the wing is held. The first image looks like the bird is stretching a bit, lowering the wing, which would reveal a different set of feathers. At least that is the only explanation I could come up with.
Drew
- Luke
This is actually a juvenile. This can be determined by the black markings on the wing which would be absent in an adult. Also, from my (extremely) limited experience, vagrants are often times juveniles. I assume this is because if a migrating bird makes its first migration correctly, it is less likely to be lost.
- Luke