Re: [Maine-birds] Possible "Lesser" Sandhill Crane, North Yarmouth, 4/24

Hi all,

Had Louis actually taken the time to read the blog, he would have seen my mention of the variability of the rusty staining, my desire for a spread-wing photo, and the caveat that size is subjective and variable.  However, I find it rather coincidental that a really small-looking and really small-billed Sandhill Crane just happened to have the most extensive staining that I have ever seen in a Sandhill in Maine, at any season.

Whether all of that taken together is good enough to label the bird to subspecies is a whole 'nother question, and my belief is "probably not." Of course, as a few respected colleagues have mentioned, even the delineation of various subspecies of Sandhills has been called into question.

As with so many "odd" birds - presumed hybrid ducks, the Scarborough heron, The "Westbrook Gull," and others, labels are sometimes hard to apply, and certainly our sometimes-artificial delineations of species, subspecies, or "identifiable forms" are simply conjecture. That doesn't make it any less fun for me to try, however, as such oddballs are always worth studying and learning from.

-Derek

 

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Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04032
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

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From: Louis Bevier <lrbevier@colby.edu>
To: Maine Birds List Serve <maine-birds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 4:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Possible "Lesser" Sandhill Crane, North Yarmouth, 4/24

I covered the identification of Sandhill Crane subspecies in Maine 3 years ago:

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/maine-birds/brvJPdhYgVA/ngo6qI2vZvAJ

One potential problem I mentioned then is the misperception that rusty staining is indicative of subspecies. It may not be. Some field guides illustrate both the rusty-stained spring birds and the gray fall/winter birds but show only one of the seasonal plumages for each subspecies. The Sibley guide, for example, shows the rusty spring appearance for Lesser but only the gray fall for Greater. Although labeled clearly and a fall (gray) Lesser is illustrated, I can see the potential for confusion where folks think the rusty ones are more likely to be Lesser Sandhills.

A key character to look for is the color of the primary shafts. This has not been studied in depth and is not widely known (and may not prove diagnostic). A photo of the spread wing photo would help. Greater Sandhill Crane is said to have the primary shafts entirely ivory white, whereas Lesser has at least the distal third of the primary shafts dark.

The bird in Derek's photos does look comparatively short-billed and short-legged suggesting Lesser Sandhill, but a problem with cranes is that the sexes can differ dramatically in size, females being smaller. I have photos showing family groups where the female looks tiny compared with her mate and her son (fall photo so age apparent).

It certainly is worth keeping our eyes out for these smaller, northern breeders.

Louis Bevier

Fairfield

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