With Red-breasted (top) the bill appears proportionally quite long and is thin and ever-so-slightly up-turned; the forehead is abrupt and steep; the reddish tones to the head are muted. Look for a lack of white throat patch and a muted red grading through to the lower neck and nape. With Common, the bill is slightly thicker and slightly less up-turned; the bill more or less smoothly transitions to the forehead; the reddish tones to the head are deep. Look for a contrastive white throat patch and a stark delineation between the head and the lower neck (lacks a grading of reddish tones).

Hi there,

Today (24 December 2015) I bird-watched along the Rideau River at  Strathcona Park. I stayed on the W side of the river and birded from Strathcona S to Hurdman bridge and back. I encountered some birds of interest and wanted to share some photos. Continue reading Goldeneyes: Cryptic Barrow’s & “Yellow-billed” Common →