These birdies give us a good sense of how difficult bird identification is, and why I am sometimes uncertain of my labels. If you find I am wrong with an identification, please don’t hesitate to set me straight. I welcome the help. This is a male Kelp Goose who was photographed at the furthest southern point in Argentina. Kelp Geese are part of the sheldrake family and range from the southern portion of Patagonian Chile to Tierra del Fuego and The Falkland Islands. They have yellow legs and feet.
Here we have a Kelp Goose chick, note the dark legs on the chick, and the yellow legs on the adult.
These are Upland Geese. They are also birds of the far south. They have the same basic coloration as male and female Kelp Geese, but male Upland Geese have black feet and females have yellow feet. I was pretty sure this was a female Upland Goose because she and the male had a chick which you can see below.
The chick had black feet too! Are you confused yet? This is why I would never swear by my identifications….
Here you can’t see the feet at all but this is the same pair that I am betting are Upland Geese. This family was photographed in The Falkland Islands.
In this group shot, the legs are not really cooperating, but my guess is still Upland Geese, males with black legs, and females with yellow. But they could be Ruddy Headed Geese.
Check this out:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/saving-a-species-by-splitting-it-the-case-of-the-ruddy-headed-goose/
You have to be kinda confused my now, I am. Still I’m going with Upland until someone corrects me….
Here is a Male Upland Goose with Magellanic Penguins in the Falkland Islands. At least we can be sure of the penguins right? Don’t be too sure. They are some other penguins mixed in with this colony, but thankfully this shot is far enough away, and we can’t see well enough to sort this out! Laughing……
These are Patagonian Crested Ducks. They live in the same far southern region and there are about 10,000 estimated breeding pairs of these ducks in existence. This pair was in Ushuaia Argentina.
This guy is a year old Dolphin Gull, whose coloration is entirely different from adults whose photos I posted on my previous post. They are this color when they are young and change as they mature. He was in Tierra del Fuego and is also a bird of the far south.
This cutey is a Grass Wren, known as a Sage Wren in North America. He sings beautifully and was photographed in The Falkland Islands.
And finally we have a Southern Lapwing. This bird is found extensively throughout South America and extends to the very tip of the continent.
The good news is, we aren’t having a test on any of this, so we can just enjoy the beautiful birds, and hope I identified them correctly.
Cheers to you from the many amazing birdies of the far south~
Once again – sharp interesting photos and commentary. Looks like the Sothern Lapwing has a problem with getting a properly colour-cordinated outfit – just used what was available in the closet.That Grass Wren is a little cutey and my favourite shot would be the pair of Upland Geese (photo#3) Very nice Cindy!
Thank you for taking the time to look so carefully. It is very thoughtful of you and most appreciated too! 🦆🦆
I use to take a lot of wildlife pictures when we lived on a lake and had 70 acres of woods, wetlands, fields and water. I always would look through my many reference books (retired librarian), especially the Michigan ones to try and identify accurately. Birds/animals go through different stages and their looks change as well as female/or male. Fun – I know you’re doing the best you can.
It is great fun and so rewarding when you find an identification and expand your repertoire of birds! I am happy you have experienced this. 🦆
Stellar photos! Thank you.
Happy you enjoyed the 🦆🦆 & thank you!
My pleasure. ^__^
Incredible! How many different kind of birds are around the World!
Best estimates are between 9-10,000. We have over 500 species where I live, the most in the continental US, so I get lots of practice 24/7!
I see. You are the real lover and professional in bird photos.
I feel the same about you and your gifted photography Alexander.
Thank you, Cindy! I hope we try to do the best we can.
Looking forward to see your future ornithology research!
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You travel some amazing places and take very beautiful photos, Cindy. They looked detailed enough to reach out and touch!
Wouldn’t that be wonderful if we could reach out and touch subjects in photos. It would be like the holodeck in The USS Enterprise. I’ve always wanted a holodeck!
I didn’t realise there were so many species of geese, Cindy! You have captured some gorgeous photos of these lovely birdies. 🙂
Thank you Judy! There are so many bird species and they all are pretty amazing.
Lapwing definitely painted; how strange to have parrot colour shoulders that don’t go with the rest!
Yes they are amazing looking birds and I have seen Southern Lapwings all over far southern Patagonia as they are fairly common. Beautiful creatures~
My favorite: the coloration of the male and female upland geese!
Thanks Curt! They are beautiful creatures aren’t they!
I love your gorgeous photographs, Cindy, whether or not your identifications are correct. I enjoy traveling along vicariously to places I might never see in person ❤
You are so much fun to travel with Tina and I so appreciate your thoughtful comments. Be well my friend 💗💗
Absolutely stunning shots, Cindy. Thank you for sharing the beauty of birds.
Thank you for your kind friendship and thoughtful comments 💗💗
Pingback: Birds of the Far South (Pt. II)~ — Cindy Knoke – Vietnam Travel & Trade Portal
Awe inspiring, phantasmagorical & beyond. Cindy, I don’t know one bird from another, but I am more educated than ever. I am also more in love with birds than ever! THANK YOU!!!!
Hugs to you sweet friend and hope all is going well with you Resa! 💗💗
I am glad that this is not class to identify birds. I would not be able to identify birds. I guess I can only remember black feet for male and yellow feet for female. If you asked do I enjoy the post and these cute birds. Absolutely!
Awwww, you are such a good friend! Thank you for your kindness over the years & cheers to you too!
What a stunning series of bird shots and I’m like you and have to guess at some of the identification.
Like you I find the chicks not necessarily indicative of their eventual adult appearance and identity.
(All the Australian Wood Duck ducklings I’ve seen have the stripe above and below the eye indicating females as adults. I’ve never seen a duckling that has the male head colour. Do they change colour and feather pattern as they grow OR, out of the dozens and dozens I’ve seen, including 14 chicks in the one family, all REALLY been females).
It is a genuine puzzle isn’t it and it is what makes birds so fun to try and identify!
An interesting and informative gallery of geese Cindy, and lovely clear photos. Are you still having problems finding my blog? In case you cannot find me here is the link to my latest post. https://retiredfromgypsylife.wordpress.com/2018/03/19/5-minute-regular-random/ I think you will like this one
I was over at you new site a day or to ago and left some comments and likes. I hope the likes are not disappearing! Love your new site!
Yes I got them Cindy pleased to have you virtually visiting, looking forward to the real thing soon
Unfortunately we are not making it to Oz this year. I am hugely disappointed. Something came up with a family member requiring a shorter trip. We will go as far as The Cooks and turn back. Next year it is on the books, so it is a delay not a cancellation. I am terribly disappointed!
Sorry we will not have a meeting this year Cindy, but will look forward to next year now and remember we have accommodation in our granny flat if you would like a few days stay in this area.
Yes, I am quite disappointed too and your offer is very kind my friend. Hugs to you and Jack.
I know you’ll enjoy wherever you go and I look forward to the virtual journey
Life is life. It imposes limitations. If it didn’t, I would be hanging out with you and Jack on The Gold Coast in April. It is my loss.
Well look forward to the get together whenever you can make it.
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Awesome captures.🙂
Thank you and very happy you enjoyed!
A very lovely post, excellent shots!!I love the birds😘👍
I love people who love 🐦🐦 So, thank you very much!
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Tolle Aufnahmen Cindy. Hast Du sie in freier Wildbahn oder in einem Reservat fotografiert? Ich weiss, wie schwierig die Ornithologie ist, habe ich doch jahrelang die Vogel-Bestimmung von Singvögeln geübt.
Ich habe alles in freier Wildbahn an der Südspitze Südamerikas fotografiert. Und ja, Vogelidentifikation ist eine sehr lustige Herausforderung. Ich hoffe, es geht dir gut, mein lieber Freund.
Cindy how creative you are. I’m impressed. Love for nature is so beautifully portrayed through your photographs ❤
Thank you Tanveer for thoughtful and perceptive comments & be well my friend ❤
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❤ you
Thanks so much & I love people who love 🐦🐦🐦!
I’m always amazed that you know the names of all these birds (and more). Part of the fun, I bet. I love the soft browns of the Patagonian Crested Ducks. So pretty. 🙂
Ducks have some the most beautiful variants. Thank you for noticing and appreciating the 🦆🦆🦆 and cheers to you my friend!
Gorgeous, Cindy! I am amazed at how much you do know, and you won’t get any correction from me, just admiration! 😍
Ahhhh, friends like you are the best ever! ❤
Fantastic photos as always, Cindy.
Merci beaucoup mon ami! ❤
Great pictures as always, Cindy! How are you liking your new camera? It has great resolution, and great aperture for you to capture bird images with short exposures. This plus your eye for composition makes your blog one of the best! Not to mention your adventurous spirit!
Our community of bloggers is so miraculous. I feel so blessed to be part of this kind, creative and supportive community, and you are our pastor! It doesn’t get better than this my friend. Thank you & cheers too ❤
I like all those colorful and sassy-looking birds, but the nervous juvenile won my heart. 🙂
They are seriously adorable aren’t they, and they live in quite severe conditions!
Amazing. I love how devoted you are to the winged folk.
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As always, your photos show whatever is there in exquisite detail. The feathers on the upland goose chick were a revelation: some things are even scruffier than the whiskers of my beard.
Laughing…..that little duckling has to survive the harsh weather and water temps of the far south, so he earns his scraggly feathers, as I am sure you earned your whiskers!
Beautiful photos and no way could I identify all these birds… so you can call them what you want and I wouldn’t know the difference… names aren’t important, I love looking at them!
Thank you! A goose by any other name would surely honk the same~
Such beautiful birds. Your pictures are so sharp.
You are so kind, thank you!
WOW! Such great pictures and captions, Cindy…like always ❤ There are so many differences and look-a-likes that we found the solution and just call them birdie, ducky, goose or just love ones 😉 Pawkisses for a wonderful day 🙂 ❤
Perfect! Works for me and for the birdies too, who after all don’t care about what we call them!
Stunning photos!!!
Thanks Leyla & cheers to you my friend!
Grass wren. Want one! RH
I hear you. They sing their hearts out for you! ❤
The southern lapwing is gorgeous, it looks like a watercolour. Where is your favourite birdwatching spot?
Australia is my favorite place for birds Booderee National Park is a real favorite. We were supposed to go back this April but had to cancel.
That’s a shame you had to cancel. I’d love to go to Australia one day. The only thing would be the long flight.
Yes. The flight requires serious commitment!
Awww, I so enjoy birding! Thanks for sharing! Peace and Joy, Shona
Lovely to meet another 🐦🐦🐦 lover and thank you for stopping by!
I am always wishing to pick baby chicks, ducklings and goslings up by my nose and nuzzle them, Cindy. They are so precious and adorable! 😘 xo 💐
Happy Spring as well as Happy Easter! 🐇🐣
Happy Spring and Easter dear Robin. I hope the Easter Bunny is very good to you my friend! ❤
Good for us that we only have the joy of enjoying these beauties without the task of identifying them. Many species do look so similar that only experts can make a proper identification.
I concur with all your points completely! ❤
Oh I love them all so beautiful, wow all the different kinds , I love the red in the wren so beautifully colored.
Birds just improve everything!!<3 ❤
They sure do and my kitty sees them all..she loves them..
http://gph.is/J1gK6h
Lol..so far she just watches like a hawk..she does bring me gofers and lizards daily alive..shes not a killer she brings them.proudly alive..shes so proud it’s crazy..I take her picture as she poses with her prize and then they have to go back..lol no birds yet but shes sure a bird watcher…
What a totally sweet cat!
She is a lil sweetie that’s for sure..you can see photos on my angel page of her..
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Such lovely geese. You must be an incredibly happy person, travelling around and seeing all these wonderful birds. I adore geese. Every year, when they arrive on the south coast of the UK from Scandinavia for the winter and fly over my house several times a day in wonderful configurations and honking at the top of their voices, I am in awe of them.
Yes!! I hear you and of course I understand completely. Birds are simply magic! Happy weekend Sarah! ❤
A beautiful set Cindy. Birds are like most knowledge, the more you learn, the more you realizes you don’t know! 🙂
So true! Which is why genuinely smart people are also humble.
Beautiful photos whatever birds they are. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you & cheers too!
Hey Cindy– I applaud your identification efforts! Did you have a Bird Guide of South America to see you through?? Your photos are really stunning! They should be used in a bird identifcation guide– so clear and detailed! thanks!
I had a bird guide, both times, in Africa, but since this was my third time in this region, I didn’t bring one. I did however rely on the internet rather extensively as there were some real stumpers this time!
Like being a bird detective! Good work Cindy! xo
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The colours on that last bird are amazing.
Plovers are beautiful birds. I saw more of them on prior trips, but I was grateful to see this beauty. Cheers to you Charlotte & thank you for stopping by ❤
Ducks make me laugh but wrens, all the different species, are some of my favorite birds! Beauties! x
Ducks are excellent comedians, without even trying to be!