ID Challenge #10 - closes 14 May 2010

[Neil Fitzgerald]

MaxMaddock1.jpg (129.12 KiB) Viewed 12638 times

A big thank you to Max Maddock for allowing the use of his photo for this month's challenge.

Answers for this challenge are due by replying to this topic by midnight (NZST) on Friday 14 May 2010.
Click here for the rules.

The winner of the 2009-2010 ID Quiz will get one free place on a scheduled Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ pelagic trip!

Answers will not be visible to anyone else until after the closing date.

[simon.fordham]

Erect-crested penguin

[Suzi]

Snares Crested Penguin - distinguished by visible skin at base of bill. (I hope !)

Suzi

[Bruce McKinlay]

Based on the white feathers on the cheek I call this bird a Fiordland Crested Penguin

Bruce

[Jan]

Moulting Snares Crested Penguin probably photographed in Aussie, enjoying the heat.

[Paulchen]

I'm going for Erect Crested Penguin on this one.

[harrier.talon]

Snares Crested Penguin based on what appears to be pink at the base of the beak

[Peter Frost]

Immature Snares Crested Penguin: the position of the eyebrow stripe eliminates Rockhopper and Macaroni Penguin as in those species the stripes start on the forehead, not near the base of the bill. The black throat eliminates Royal Penguin. The presence of pale skin at the base of the bill, most prominent at the gape, and the lack of any pale cheek stripes, eliminates Fiordland Crested Penguin, which leaves only Erect-crested and Snares crested. The eye stripe starts at the nasal groove, which indicates Snares crested Penguin. (In Erect-crested Penguin, the eye stripe starts at or just above the gape.) I'd guess that this is an immature, given the washed out colour of the eye stripe and brownish tinge to the upperparts. Do I get a chocolate fish

[David Riddell]

By the bare skin at the gape of the bill, lack of cheek striping and style of crest this would have to be a Snares Crested Penguin.

[ledzep]

Can't see underneath the flipper. Bill is too big for Rockhopper, and I reckon I can see some bare skin around the bill so I'll go with Erect Crested Penguin (perhaps moulting, which is why the yellow crest isn't as big as it could be) rather than the Fiordland Crested. So that's my guess - Erect Crested Penguin.