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November 22, 2021
Monday Morning Iceland Mysteries (Part 2)
I wondered what the bird in this artwork at the National Art Gallery of Iceland was, and was told it was a gannet.
I got to thinking about it and realized, no way!
So what is it?
3 comments
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Diane,
Great answer! I knew something was bugging me about the bird being a cormorant — and you solved it. Wouldn’t be drying its wings (and half-heartedly at that) at night. Thanks. -
The stark white throat and bill shape make me think Little Pied or Pied Cormorant but these are found in Australia/New Zealand. The red eye makes me think of loons, but the bill shape is wrong and the feather-drying posture is characteristic of cormorants. But what cormorant would attempt to dry its wings by moonlight? Perhaps this is all artistic license and this is an imaginary specie. In any case, it is not a Gannet.
-
Looks like a cormorant
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3 comments
Jim Wright
Diane,
Great answer! I knew something was bugging me about the bird being a cormorant — and you solved it. Wouldn’t be drying its wings (and half-heartedly at that) at night. Thanks.
Diane
The stark white throat and bill shape make me think Little Pied or Pied Cormorant but these are found in Australia/New Zealand. The red eye makes me think of loons, but the bill shape is wrong and the feather-drying posture is characteristic of cormorants. But what cormorant would attempt to dry its wings by moonlight? Perhaps this is all artistic license and this is an imaginary specie. In any case, it is not a Gannet.
Sally Wiegand
Looks like a cormorant