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 |