Posted by Matthew Kenne (65.219.76.158) on September 05, 2002 at 06:50:17:
In Reply to: The July dowitcher posted by Martin Reid on September 05, 2002 at 05:19:31:
The above-referenced feathers can only be alternate or basic feathers; my understanding is that the basic pattern of these feathers is plain whitish in all races of SBDO - is this correct? Thus, if it is reasonable to say that these feathers cannot be basic, the next question is: is it possible that these presumed alternate feathers could have been strongly red when fresh, yet now have lost all trace of redness while retaining pin-sharp black internal marks? if the answer to this is "no" (my inclination), then we are left with: can any LBDO sport such white alternate feathers (with crisp black marks) of such extent? again my inclination is "no". Given that such white alternate feathers are typical of caurinus SBDO, I feel that this sequence leads clearly to an ID of SBDO... but I'd appreciate getting feedback about the strengths/flaws in my argument.
I think you may have nailed this one, Martin, although I'm sure you meant to say: the basic pattern is plain whitish in all races of SBDO and LBDO. I haven't looked at many photos, but the most contrast I've found in these basic feathers is a diffuse, smudgy grayness- no sharp black.