After a long and drawn-out winter the Bear River MBR came alive and greeted me with all sorts of bird voices.
American White Pelicans had arrived, Double-crested Cormorants were flying in the air, Western Grebes had arrived to breed and raise their chicks, White-faced Ibises where in their usual places and, of course, Long-bill Curlews, which I met immediately upon arrival at the refuge.
Female Long-billed Curlew.
It's a little tricky to distinguish a female Long Billed Curlew from a male.
The most noticeable difference is the length of the bill. Females have significantly longer, more curved bill.
Females are generally larger and heavier than males, but this can be hard to judge unless you see both of them together.
Generally, life is good.
You seized the opportunity that presented itself: a couple. You brought back everything we needed to identify each other.
ReplyDeleteThe beak is so long!
ReplyDeleteLa estética y elegancia de los zarapitos pico largo es una maravilla visual. Su plumaje igualmente es muy atractivo. Tus fotos, como siempre, me permiten apreciar la belleza de estas aves. Gracias por compartir
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
Espectacular la definición que has logrado del plumaje
ReplyDeleteQué magnífica definición en estas imágenes del zarapito pico largo y qué interesante siempre el lado didáctico de tus entradas.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo, Kaya.
They are interesting. Even the color of their feathers makes them different from other birds.
ReplyDeleteLlama mucho la atención la gran largura de su pico.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
wow those are beautiful photos. Love the list of birds that have returned. I'm waiting for Big Bear lake to be done with snow and I'll be enjoying some of those same type of birds. We don't get many different ones at our lake besides coots and ducks. A few years back we had pelicans stop for a bit and geese - other than that not much anymore.
ReplyDeleteMuy buenas capturas. Llama mucho la atencion el largo pico de estas aves.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo