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Archive 2018 · Snowy Egret studies

dalite
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Snowy Egret studies

This bird has some strange orange coloration and I wonder how that happened. Reminds me of some colors on cattle egrets. But this is definitely a Snowy Egret.

All fluffed up

"Rock skating." Strike up the orchestra, Mr Waldteufel

Preening

Edited on Jun 28, 2018 at 07:30 PM · View previous versions

Jun 28, 2018 at 07:24 PM

Karl Witt
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Snowy Egret studies

Could be something in the water that is staining? This is common on Mute Swans:
'The white feathers present on the heads and necks of adult mute swans are often stained orange-brown by iron and tannins in the water.'

Thanks for sharing, love #3!
Karl

Jun 28, 2018 at 07:30 PM

KCollett
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Snowy Egret studies

Looks like he lost at paintball. Good set.

Jun 28, 2018 at 07:55 PM

surfnron
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Snowy Egret studies

Nicely done and interesting Dennis ~ Ron

Jun 28, 2018 at 09:11 PM

Shasoc
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Snowy Egret studies

I have had the same experience with a cattle egret and did some research. It seems that the buff color is essentially a stain, coming from pigmented oil from specialized powder-down feathers (Delhey et al, 2007).
When a Cattle Egret molts in late summer the new feathers are all-white, and they slowly turn buff in winter and spring without molting.I will speculate that this bird is over-producing the oils from powder-down, and coloring the whole plumage. The darker color on the wing coverts could be the result of the pigmented oil interacting with differently-textured feathers there.
Nice job on these, Dennis.
Here is a composite.
Socrate

Edited on Jun 29, 2018 at 10:29 PM · View previous versions

Jun 29, 2018 at 02:28 PM

dalite
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Snowy Egret studies

Thank you Karl. Comment appreciated.

Jun 29, 2018 at 04:57 PM

dalite
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Snowy Egret studies

Thanks Ken. Looks like Socrate has an explanation for the coloration.

Jun 29, 2018 at 04:58 PM

dalite
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Snowy Egret studies

Thanks Ron. Glad you liked them.

Jun 29, 2018 at 04:58 PM

dalite
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Snowy Egret studies

Thanks Socrate. Glad to learn this explanation from you.

Jun 29, 2018 at 04:59 PM

morris
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Snowy Egret studies

Great set, the last is my pick.

Possibly it's a hybrid

Morris

Jun 29, 2018 at 07:30 PM

birdied
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Snowy Egret studies

Lovely set.

Birdie

Jun 29, 2018 at 09:51 PM

canon.eos30d
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Snowy Egret studies

Beautiful. Is it possible that it is a mix ffrom cattle egret?

-Tam

Jun 29, 2018 at 11:03 PM

dalite
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Snowy Egret studies

Thanks Morris, Birdie and Tam. Shasoc has an explanation for the colors on the egret.

Jun 29, 2018 at 11:31 PM


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