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Thread: Merganser

  1. #1
    Steve Ludewig
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    Default Merganser

    I believe this is a Merganser. Taken at Lake Ralphine in Santa Rosa, CA (Sonoma County).

    Canon 7D, 1/200, ISO 200, using 70-200 f/4 IS L at 190mm
    In Photoshop - cropped, very slight curves adj, mild sharpening



  2. #2
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Steve:

    A big welcome to BPN. A handsome bird to start with.

    Looks like an adult male common merganser in non breeding plumage to me. I am going with this ID vs. the hooded merganser based on the heavier bill and chin strap of white going higher on the sides of the face.

    The eye and crest looks pretty sharp, but the bill appears to be ahead of the plane of focus. At that slow shutter speed there could also be a bit of motion blur if he was rotating his head a bit.

    Because of the very bright reflections in the water, I would be tempted to crop up to about the bottom of the head reflection to downplay the blue bands a bit.

    You could also try to tone down the brightest areas in the background that remain.

    Look forward to more images.

    Again, welcome to BPN. A great place to learn and grow as a bird or nature photographer!

    Cheers

    Randy

  3. #3
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    That's a female common merganser. The red bill rules out the hooded merganser. The female common looks much like a female red-breasted merganser, except the common has a white throat and a sharper horizontal delineation between the head and body.

    The male common merganser looks like this:



    The female hooded merganser looks like this:


  4. #4
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Allen:

    I thought it was a non breeding male based on Sibley's, but I stand corrected.

    Cheers

    Randy

  5. #5
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Allen:

    I thought it was a non breeding male based on Sibley's, but I stand corrected.

    When was the picture taken Steve?

    Cheers

    Randy

  6. #6
    Steve Ludewig
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    Hi Randy,

    The picture was taken this past Saturday, January 15, 2011, in Northern California (Sonoma County).

    Thanks,
    Steve


    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post
    Allen:

    I thought it was a non breeding male based on Sibley's, but I stand corrected.

    When was the picture taken Steve?

    Cheers

    Randy

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