[Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February?

[Dennis Paulson]

Alcids are the only group among our birds that may molt into breeding plumage very early in spring, i.e., mid- to late winter. I have seen this in Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets in this area, always a surprise.

I wish I knew why they were the exception, as I don’t think they are ready for breeding yet. They are not appearing at breeding sites. Usually the molt into breeding plumage is moderated by day length and hormones, but something else seems to be going on here.

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> On Feb 4, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Elston <stephen.elston at gmail.com> wrote:

> 

> I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others that were still molding into breeding plumage.  Given my experience, I would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. 

> 

> On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict <benedict.t at comcast.net <mailto:benedict.t at comcast.net>> wrote:

> Shortly after posting I found this report <https://racerocks.ca/return-of-the-pigeon-guillemots/> from last Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a photo of 8 PIGU titled “Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". Most are still “variable” and “smudgy”, but a couple are quite “black and white”. 

> 

> So I guess it’s not too early for our “resident” PIGU in the southern Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. 

> 

> Tom Benedict

> Seahurst, WA

> 

>> On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict <benedict.t at comcast.net <mailto:benedict.t at comcast.net>> wrote:

>> 

>> Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown’s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that’s what I called them.  I’m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around.

>> 

>> However, now that I’m home and reviewing my observations, I’m wondering if it’s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the “variable” or “smudgy” plumage of a winter PIGU.

>> 

>> Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or “smudgy”?

>> 

>> Tom Benedict

>> Seahurst, WA

> 

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