Feb. 3, 2013 - Florida Photos - Part 1
Read MoreDiana and I are staying on St. George Island again this year. It’s located in the middle of the Florida Panhandle right on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Large flocks of Redheads spend the winter in bays along the coastline. This pair was in a small pond on St. George Island. The one on the right is an adult male in full breeding plumage. The other one is a first year male developing his breeding plumage. The breast feathers are not fully turned to black and the head feathers are red, but not yet the deep red that is shown by the other duck. The rump and tail have not turned black yet, and the back feathers still show some of the light brown from the juvenile plumage.
Here’s an interesting study in plumage. These are all White Ibis but they are juveniles. Each one shows a different stage of molting into adult plumage. They start out mostly brown, like the one on the left with its head down. The middle one has already replaced some brown feathers with white ones. The one on the right is even further along; the head and neck are mostly white. Here’s a link to one of my bird galleries showing White Ibis in their adult plumage. http://www.earlorfphotos.com/Birds/Birds-3/5689244_sMmgBc#!i=350687422&k=9qpR8bQ
This white bird is actually a juvenile Little Blue Heron. It changes from white plumage as a juvenile to dark plumage as an adult, just the opposite of the White Ibis above. Judging by its name, you might think it’s related to the Great Blue Heron, but it’s really a close relative of the Snowy Egret. Here’s a link to my bird gallery showing the Little Blue in adult plumage. On that page, you’ll also find a photo of a Little Blue transitioning to adult plumage. http://www.earlorfphotos.com/Birds/Birds-3/5689244_sMmgBc#!i=350681317&k=rQc4s49
Add a comment in the space below.