Quiz #451 (2012-2-09) Solution

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Solution by Tony Leukering

The quiz bird's thin bill, underparts streaking, and extensive white on the outermost rectrices (R6s) -- including the outer web, should send us straight to the pipits (most warblers with extensive white in the R6s have that white on the inner web). Our bird's strong and flaring lateral throat stripe reduces our options to American, Olive-backed, and Red-throated pipits. While many American Pipits lack such strong lateral throat stripes, some sport such, so the species remains in the mix. Red-throated Pipit can be eliminated by our bird's long tail and underparts streaking that is not black enough for that species. Olive-backed Pipit would also show blacker streaking in addition to a whiter ground color on much of the underparts, as well as a more-distinct and whiter superciliary.

I took this picture of a basic-plumaged American Pipit at San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, on 7 October 2011.

We've got a real pressure-cooker going in this quarter's competition, with three respondents tied with perfect 9-of-9 scores: Ben Coulter, Bryan Guarente, and Robert McNab. Five others are right on their heels with 8 correct responses.

Incorrect species provided as answers:
Vesper Sparrow - 1
Red-throated Pipit - 1
Sprague's Pipit - 2
Blackpoll Warbler - 1

Congratulations to the 20 of 25 getting the quiz correct:
Kelly Morrissey
Peter Wilkinson
Tyler Bell
Thomas Hall
Margaret Smith
Patty McKelvey
Su Snyder
Al Guarente
Logan Kahle
Kirk Huffstater
Ben Coulter
Richard Jeffers
Rhonda Kelly
Robert McNab
Margie Joy
Bryan Guarente
Sean Walters
Marcel Such
Joel Such
Joe Bens

Answer: American Pipit

Quiz #450 (2012-2-08) Solution

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Solution by Tony Leukering

This week's quiz bird is apparently attempting take-off from the water. Unfortunately, we cannot see enough of the wing pattern to use that to rule out any of the black-and-white grebes other than the two big boys, Western and Clark's. However, our bird's red eye and nearly-all-dark bill eliminates Red-necked (as does the length of that bill), so we're left with a duo of species that send many birders into conniptions. Plumage features in these two species are variable enough that a fair bit of overlap is created, suggesting that we might be better served at looking at structural cues. Indeed, our bird's very flat crown on a head that is wide from front to back and its thick, blunt bill point our way to the solution of the quandary.

I took this picture of a Horned Grebe on 1 March 2009 at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., CA.  Those with access to back issues of Colorado Birds may want to peruse a fuller treatment of this ID problem in my In The Scope essay in the January 2010 issue.

Incorrect species provided as answers:
Eared Grebe - 2
Red-necked Grebe - 1

Congratulations to the 20 of 23 respondents getting the quiz correct:
Ben Coulter
Robert McNab
Margaret Smith
Nick Komar
George Cresswell
Bryan Guarente
Richard Jeffers
Kirk Huffstater
Tyler Bell
Pam Myers
Patty McKelvey
Josh Yoder
Su Snyder
Logan Kahle
Al Guarente
Peter Wilkinson
Chishun Kwong
Sean Walters
Marcel Such
Joel Such

Answer: Horned Grebe