blue crow? (1 Viewer)

[r f maginnis]

thanks again re blue crow

You are right. I never really had a position on this and at first thought it to be a crow, never having heard of a purple-backed anything. But I felt someone ought to stand up for Mr McCaskie's position, because he was so kind as to answer a know-nothing's inquiry. Thus, I played devil's advocate. I think that if the first photo has a tinge of iridescence it is because the bird was in direct sunlight. The photos in shade lack it perhaps because of a pigment anomaly on this bird. They were taken in partial shade where the pigment anomaly predominates. As you no doubt know, iridescence is due to light wave interference in thin film and depends on orientation to light. None of the photos was retouched but all were taken directly from the camera where they still reside. The speckles about the eye are probably the same dust from the mud that shows on the beak and can be seen where the bird is foraging. Sorry I became testy about the accusation.

 

[Jane Turner]

and we all lived happily ever after!

 

[Gentoo]

You are right. I never really had a position on this and at first thought it to be a crow, never having heard of a purple-backed anything. But I felt someone ought to stand up for Mr McCaskie's position, because he was so kind as to answer a know-nothing's inquiry. Thus, I played devil's advocate. I think that if the first photo has a tinge of iridescence it is because the bird was in direct sunlight. The photos in shade lack it perhaps because of a pigment anomaly on this bird. They were taken in partial shade where the pigment anomaly predominates. As you no doubt know, iridescence is due to light wave interference in thin film and depends on orientation to light. None of the photos was retouched but all were taken directly from the camera where they still reside. The speckles about the eye are probably the same dust from the mud that shows on the beak and can be seen where the bird is foraging. Sorry I became testy about the accusation.

I know how iridescence works. I see it on Grackles and Crows all the time. Look carefully at the photo and what B. Lagopus pointed out. Iridescence does not suddenly cut off like it does at this birds shoulder, look carefully and you will see that the bend of the wing suddenly becomes all black again and that on the hind neck, the blue-ish coloration seems to stop at an artificial line.

Sorry if this irritates some but I honestly can't see us letting this go with careful scrutiny. It's our duty as birders. Just look and consider what has been said here and if you still think I'm out of line, I'll let it go and won't bring it up again although it should be said that a lot of credibility may be lost.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/acecool/ABCsoffakebluecrow.jpg

 

[r f maginnis]

The End

and we all lived happily ever after!

Ms. Turner: There is one other thing. I don't like to lend credence to the pomposity bit, and maybe I have been educated beyond my ability to think, but now that I have convinced everyone that it is a blue crow and an anomaly of the American Crow, perhaps we ought to give it a name. I want you to know that, as the discoverer, I agree that my name can be used so that it may become "The Russell Crowe". It is admittedly a small recognition, but even one so poultry would make me proud. Thanks for the bandwidth. Russell (Note: That's with two "el's".)

 

[dumptruck]

Ha! A comedian!

 

[AlexC]

.lol.