To my eye there’s something just a little bit strange about this bird.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed it three days ago on Antelope Island. I like the way the bird is almost completely separated from the perch against that lovely, layered background with the Great Salt Lake at bottom and sky above. The lake is so huge in this perspective that we don’t even see a hint of the far shore or mountains back there. You can’t see them with the naked eye either. It’s too bad that the color of my blog page matches the upper background so well.
I’ve never seen this color/feather pattern where the front of the wings meet the rest of the body in this species before. I think it may be at least partly because the white flank and side feathers are swept up over the top of the front of the dark wing edge which makes the entire front half of the wing appear white. But there’s more than that going on. Notice the black in the upper right hand corner of the whites. Normally there isn’t any black mixed in with the white (the blacks and whites are very distinct from each other) and this is the first time I’ve seen this on any magpie. I looked at a bunch of my other magpie photos to confirm that.
I never got a look at the other side of the bird so I don’t know if the left side shows the same thing. I zoomed in on that area with the high-resolution image and I’m convinced that black is the actual feather color there rather than some kind of smudge, stain or debris. This may be a first year bird but with magpies that shouldn’t make any difference.
It’s a small thing but it sure caught my attention because it looks so different.
At the last minute I decided to include another photo of a different magpie in a similar pose to show you what I’ve always seen in the past with this species. See what I mean?
I hope I’m writing this coherently. I have to answer the door for trick or treaters and a neighbor’s dogs are driving me nuts barking at them so I’m having a hard time concentrating. But if you have a possible explanation other than a color anomaly I’d like to hear it. Maybe I’m missing something, it’s happened before…
Ron
PS – After yesterday’s post regarding cats I have to mention this. My next door neighbors to the east who don’t control the barking of their dogs (trick or treaters or not) also let their cats run free and I hate that they do both – irresponsible pet ownership personified! Their dogs have been barking loudly and incessantly for almost three hours now.
And those folks probably wonder why I’m not very friendly. Yes, I did talk to them about it some years ago. No change…
Addendum: In the end after buying tons of Halloween candy my doorbell only rang twice and I had 7 trick or treaters. Anyone have a sweet tooth?
Addendum #2, I’m posting this last photo late in response to a comment from Mikal Deese.
I wonder if the black is a fading smudge of something the bird rubbed up against at some point. There are white hairs overlapping some of the ‘out of place’ black. It looks like the black has been there awhile and is slowing fading away. Just some thoughts…
I suppose it’s possible, Wayne. There are firepits in the general vicinity but I don’t see magpies going into them.
What a beautiful photograph!! Love it – fluffy black feathers and all!
Thank you, Joanne.
Your magpies are so very different to ours (curses on the lazy namers) that I can be of no help. I was fascinated though.
Sigh on the incessant barkers. We had a classic. A very lonely dog. So the owners bought him another dog to keep him company. They both barked. I didn’t miss them when they moved, but grieved for the dog’s lives.
Despite the efforts of our media and big shops Halloween hasn’t taken off here. No knocks at the door. And I agree with you about chocolate. Good chocolate is a thing of joy and beauty. The rest? Meh.
“Despite the efforts of our media and big shops Halloween hasn’t taken off here”
Dang, I just might have to consider moving to Oz! 🙂
Another “chocolate” thing I don’t like – white chocolate.
White chocolate ISN’T chocolate. In my books chocolate has to be dark.
That’s why I put it in quotes. White chocolate contains no cocoa solids. I consider it fake and it tastes like it.
I’ve often wondered why that stuff is cslled white “chocolate”…it doesn’t even taste like real chocolate…
I’d propose that in the first photo the bird has been at rest for some time, fluffing it’s warm breast and “wingpit” feathers completely over the leading edge of the wing. You’ve caught him before s/he’s spread the wings which would put everything back in the usual configuration. Do you have any other photos of a Magpie’s wingpit feathers? I have a deceased one in the freezer waiting for delivery to the museum. I’ll attempt to investigate and get back to you.
I’m sure there are feathers blown over the front of the wing, Mikal. That doesn’t explain the blacks mixed in with the whites though.
I have many photos of their “pits”. It’s mostly black there but there’s a white wedge of white from their flanks that is highly variable regarding how far forward it comes in one bird compared to another.
When I look at those feathers blown up in high res they look extremely long and fine to me – almost like downy hairs and many of them appear to be partly black and partly white.
In a few minutes I’ll post the high res version blown up to show you.
It can be a big thing…because it’s sometimes how animals change and evolve….IF YOU BELIEVE IN SCIENCE!!!
Good point, Patty.
Very interesting Magpie conundrum. Beautiful shot — reminds me of an Olympic diver balancing on the very edge of the platform just before a reverse takeoff.
We had a dearth of “juvenile extortionists” this year too. Last year we almost ran out, but when it was 6:30 and we hadn’t had anyone yet, I figured it was an off year. I gave the stuff out by the handful. Still have a bunch left, although hubby and I tried to make a dent ourselves. (Note to self: don’t buy candy we like next year!)
I feel sorry for the dogs. Spending that much of their lives above threshold is no way to live. I agree with kathy’s assertion regarding parenting (fur and otherwise).
I ALWAYS buy stuff I like, Marty. Sometimes it takes me many months to get through it all though and even then I have to chuck some of it. Don’t like gray chocolate…
Many months? Amateur! 😋
When it comes to chocolate I’m a relative connoisseur, Marty. Cheese, wine and some beef may improve with age but chocolate is another matter. And even I can’t eat it that fast…
The coloring on this Magpie does seem quite unusual. Very interesting. I’ve seen Magpies in other parts of the world and they all have the distinctly separate colors like the second photo.
This year we had exactly one ring of the doorbell, with two trick or treaters. Just like last year, except this year I only have a small bag of candy left, rather than the large one we usually buy.
In my experience, part of the reason dogs bark incessantly, is because they don’t get enough attention from their people. The little floor mop next door to us is that way.
Hmmm, wonder if it was the same kids both years…
I think I can visualize your neighbor’s dog just with that short descriptor, Susan. Perfect.
Ron, my husband usually refers to little dogs like that as “kick dogs”.
Not having this bird in this area, I can’t offer any thoughts but I sure do like these photos! I was completely enthralled by this bird when I first saw one as I was driving to Montana stopping many places to try to get photos of it. That tail and the wing colors are beautiful! I must admit I did see it at many rest stops along the way scrounging in the trash and picking up french fries etc…😏
I have found irresponsible pet people are that way across most facets of their lives. They most likely are the parents who let their uncontrolled children run screaming and throwing things in stores also.
“I have found irresponsible pet people are that way across most facets of their lives”
Sadly, that’s so very true, Kathy. Ironically the parents of the son who lives in that house now were kind and considerate people in at least some ways but they were the same way with their cats and dogs. (Poor) lesson learned…
Ron – Love this photo. The way the colors of the Magpie stand out so boldly along with the stark winter look of the shrub against the soft blue-gray background. Beautiful. Sorry about the distractions. Hope all got quiet later so you got a good night’s sleep.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett. Yes, things quieted down after about 9:15.
That is interesting tho I rarely see feathers on a magpie that “fine” that appear to be a bit ruffled/windblown either – always “slick” like in the 2nd photo. Always something “new” 🙂 Pets do need to be contained/have some manners. They probably are of the opinion that the dog is “guarding them” and really don’t even hear it any more – thin line on alerting you to something/someone that needs addressing and just barking for the joy of it…. We have a boarder collie with a VERY sharp bark. 🙁 She would NOT be a good dog to have “in town” for sure. Trick or Treaters are pretty much a “memory” here – they all go to parties etc. – sad it’s not safe enough for them to do that or, for that matter, being able to walk about in their own neighborhood without adult supervision until age 14(?) I think in some places.
I think these neighbors just don’t care. They’re rambunctious dogs and they’d rather have them barking outside and bothering neighbors instead of inside bothering them.
I used to have more trick or treaters too. Now most go to parties for the reasons you mention but this year was unusually slow. I’m wondering if one of my “good” neighbors across the street got the word out that I’ve been having nerve problems so it makes it somewhat difficult for me to negotiate the stairs and answer the door. They’re good friends and considerate people so they might do something like that. And they have a lot of neighborhood connections.
Very interesting and great shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
That is an odd coloration on this bird. I wonder if it is an age thing? And OMG on barking dogs. One of mine is a shrill barker. The kind that pierces metal. She wears a bark collar at times. The squirrels taunt her (I’ve seen them do it).
I’ve never seen something like this related to age, Arwen. But then I’m no expert on the subject.
Most dogs bark on occasion, it comes with the territory. At least you make efforts to control yours. My neighbors very rarely do and they’re far from consistent about it so the dogs never learn. It’s not the fault of their dogs. Or their cats for that matter…
Sadly it is the owners who need training most. I’m an ex-pet groomer. I marked cards PITA. Depending on which side it was on, it was the owner or the animal. I’ll let you guess at what PITA means. 😀 First word rhymes with gain. Last word is a common synonym for donkey. (innocent look)
In appropriate situations I use PITA myself, including on my blog a time or two. No, it isn’t a type of bread…