More, that is, following my contribution on Swift Parrots. HANZAB mentions the ‘possibility’ (‘further study needed’) that adult Dbs develop ‘varying degrees of dark marking to bills in non-breeding areas’. The first 2 birds below show at least the beginnings of such markings. The first was an adult with dep young, Campbell Park, 25 Jan 11, second a bird on my backyard powerlines this morning. The 2 birds on the right with the usual bright orange bills were snapped locally earlier in the breeding season. With Swift Parrots the darkening occurs with the approach of breeding.
