About midday I was out in the yard with my 8 X 36 monarchs hoping for an overflight of geese, or the little bird that showed up yesterday for a few minutes, but found only doves to look at. So I looked at doves. White winged doves, at under 20 feet.
Saw a dash of green on the side of the neck just below and a little to the rear of the black neck marks. Saw the same on another dove that seemed to be paired with that one.
Looking closely, it was a spray of individual feathers that had that bright green cast. Similar to the gorget of certain hummingbirds but smaller in area. Individual green feathers in a field of gray feathers, that gives a green shimmer when the light is at the right angle.
Gonna check my books to see if this has been reported.
Observation confirmed again yesterday. Flash of green hues in a little patch on the neck.
ReplyDeleteWonder what birds would look like if we could see into the ultraviolet, as some birds do.