Legalities aside, why was this bird considered a possible Arctic Loon? It looks like a Common Loon to me.
Nick's pictures at http://www.pbase.com/quetzal/loon11122009 show retention of white spotting on the back that does not match Pacific/Arctic at all, but does match Common. There are a plethora of tiny white spots all over, and the largest spots are small white squares. No photos are presented of the back of the neck nor a good profile, so that's hard to judge, but the one photo makes the lower mandible appear to have a strong upturn at the gonys like a Common, not flat like a Pacific/Arctic. I've never seen a Pacific/Arctic Loon in this plumage, but it doesn't seem to be arranging itself with a very distinct dark/white line down the neck. All loon species have vent straps. Kevin Kevin McGowan Ithaca, NY >apologize for submitting this post to the entire list, but I could not >reach any local birders directly. >This afternoon I found a very fresh loon carcass in excellent condition, >apparently dead from a recent bullet wound to the chest. My photos (I will >post these once I return home to Colorado later tonight) suggest a >possible adult Arctic Loon still exhibiting some breeding plumage feathers >on the throat, wings and back. The bill seems appropriately sized. The >vent strap is incomplete as described by Sibley and BNA. The mass seemed >too heavy but consistent with a fattened up adult male. I hope a local >birder could run down there tonight and double bag it for donation to an >appropriate institution/collection. >It is located about 50 yards west of the fishing pier/restaurant on the beach. > >Nick Komar >Fort Collins CO -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
