Date:         Tue, 7 Mar 2000 17:21:04 EST
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Mary Ann Todd <Dma3@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: OC Inlet Murres and "Razorpuppies"
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

First winter Razorbills have a much smaller, more slender, bill than that of
adults. The difference is nearly as great that between adult and immature
puffins. The head pattern of first winter Razorbills also approaches that of
Common Murre. Young Razorbills should show a longer tail when swimming. They
might also, depending on lighting show as blacker than the sooty brown-black
of Common Murre. It can be surprisingly hard to nail down an actively diving
alcid in those rips. Have seen a few young Razorbills there that took a long
time to show themselves convincingly.

Whilst both Common and Thick-billed Murres have been photographed at the
inlet, the "commonest" inlet alcid is Razorbill.

Dave

=======================================================================
To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com
with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey
=======================================================================
=========================================================================