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Birding/strange bird sighting

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Expert: - 11/9/2006


Question
My wife saw a bird in east central Missouri. It obviously was not indigenous to the area. It was approx. 3 feet tall with long thin spindly legs. Thick black shiny feathers, long neck, small face. Tall red plumage that stuck straight up. Can you help in identifying this bird?

Thank you,

Roger and Pam Wilkerson  

Answer
Well, tell me more. Where was the tall red plumage that stuck straight up? On the head? Was it red, orange, tan, or? What was the bird doing and where was it? In a tree? On the ground? In a swamp? What did the beak look like? Any additional information would be of help. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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