Re: [Maine-birds] Dovekie Id. help, please

Dave, I think Susan is on the right track. Your bird is a Thick-billed Murre.

You are not alone in confusing these species; it happens a lot. Part of this is unfamiliarity with size. Dovekies are smaller than one thinks. They are about the size of a Sora. If you see an alcid and it looks small, like the size of a Pied-billed Grebe or a coot, that's TOO BIG. Dovekies also have short beaks that are more the shape of a Pine Grosbeak, arched and stubby. Susan is right; the bill is too long on your bird, but note the definite curve along the culmen toward the tip, separating it from Common Murre.

Both dovekie and both murres have blackish bars on the side of the breast in winter. The face is different on Dovekie, which shows broad and truncated (squared-off) white wedge sweeping up behind the face. In a view as close as yours, one would also see thin white streaks on the scapulars (near base of wings) on a Dovekie.

Although murres are a confusion in winter, they and juvenile Razorbills and juvenile puffins, as well as guillemots are frequently called Dovekies in summer and early fall in Maine. Those young puffins and razorbills have smaller bills, which can throw observers.

Good Birding!

Louis

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