Re: [MDOsprey] Dickcissel at Lake Elkhorn In Howard County
Darius Ecker (eckerd@prodigy.net)
Sat, 18 Dec 1999 05:05:29 -0500
Hi Dave,
All the references I looked at seemed to suggest any black in the throat of
Dickcissel meant it was a male also. Also, the more extensive chestnut patch
also indicates male, which I also thought I was seeing.
I'm not familiar with the "Pyle" book you are reffering to. Could you
please post the full title, author's name and ISBN number so I can get my
hands on one ? I was just using the National Geo guide as a reference. Are
there other good references that discuss Dickcissel in detail ?
In any case, I'm thrilled Stan found that bird. I bird there every day, and
most times I don't give those Weaver Finches a second look. I may have to
change that strategy. Of course, in the spring I'm too busy looking for
warblers.
Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas,
Darius Ecker (eckerd@prodigy.net)
Columbia, Maryland.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mozurkewich" <dm@fornax.usno.navy.mil>
To: "MDOsprey Mailing List" <mdosprey@ARI.Net>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 1999 2:07 PM
Subject: [MDOsprey] Dickcissel at Lake Elkhorn In Howard County
>
> Darius,
>
> I, too, was surprised when I saw the black on this bird's throat. (I
> found it about 10:15 last Sunday.) There were black specks all the way
> along the upper edge of the yellow and they coagulated into a distinct
> black spot at the center of the throat (left to right, not up/down). I
> finally made the time to check Pyle's book and, IF I understand what he
> says, any black on the throat implies that this bird is a male.
>
> Dave
>
> Seabrook, MD USA
> dm@fornax.usno.navy.mil
>
> P.S. Even though e-mail travels rapidly, there is no guarantee that it
> gets sent, read or processed in such a timely manner.
>
> On Tue, 14 Dec 1999, Darius Ecker wrote:
>
> > For those interested, the Dickcissel was seen Monday morning, September
> > 13 at 8:15 AM in a small tree embedded in a multiflora rose at the
> > lakes's edge behind the Townhouses next to the dam at Lake Elkhorn. The
> > bird is still with a large group of Weaver Finches. I got to watch it at
> > close range (15 feet) for five minutes, before it dropped down below the
> > bank into the brambles and dissappeared. This was a tough bird for me to
> > see, and I put in well over fours hours of trying before finally seeing
> > it.
> >
> > It was worth the wait. But I thought I could see black at the base of
> > the feathers in the throat, and a fairly pronounced chestnut patch on
> > the wing. The yellow on the breast was also more extensive than I was
> > expecting for a female. Could this bird be a male Dickcissel in winter
> > plumage instead of a female ? Can the female show traces of black at the
> > throat ?
> >
> > Darius Ecker (eckerd@prodigy.net)
> >
> > Columbia, Maryland.
> >
> >
>