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Subject:

Caution with female goldeneyes

From:

"Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)"

Reply-To:

Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)

Date:

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 08:50:58 -0500

Hello all,
	This note is just a word of caution about the identification of female goldeneyes.  I have not seen the Hooper's Island bird, so I am not passing any judgment on it or the reports about it.  However, I believe it is more complicated than simply the amount of yellow in the bill.  There was a bird at Cedar Creek Millpond near Milford, DE that caused a stir a few years ago.  It had more yellow in the bill that the average Common, leading to speculation of a Barrow's.  But the supporting details did not add up and the consensus became an unusual female Common.  There is a photo, albeit not perfectly clear, on the DOS website at the following link: http://www.dosbirds.org/photogallery/index.html then choose Common Goldeneye.

Good Birding,
Glen Lovelace III
Seaford, DE