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Ethan Moon

@ethanmoon.bsky.social

104 followers 41 following 135 posts

linktr.ee/ethanashleymoon Vancouverite 🇨🇦 (Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations), bird nerd 🦆, forager of secondhand book stores 📚. If you have questions about my app, feel free to contact me.

Posts Replies Media

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

I feel attacked lol. Who would want to go to a landfill to look at seagulls?

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

White-winged Crossbills in a salt shed. ebird.org/checklist/S3... #birds #birding #whitewingedcrossbill #loxialeucoptera 🪶

Male, immature male and female White-winged Crossbills searching for salt on a mound.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Anna's Hummingbird. (Vancouver BC, March 12 2026) #birding #birds #hummingbird #annashummingbird #calypteanna 🪶

An Anna's Hummingbird, perched on a dead Himalayan Blackberry branch, stretches its wings and tail feathers.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Black Oystercatchers. (Delta BC, March 1 2026) #birding #blackoystercatcher #haematopusbachmani

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Bohemian Waxwing party. (Kamloops BC, February 19) #birding #bohemianwaxwing #bombycillagarrulus #birds 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Such a privilege to be the first to notice this humble little Taiga Flycatcher. #birds #birding #ficedulaalbicilla #taigaflycatcher #rba #vancouverbc 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Male Northern Flicker intergrade. (Vancouver BC, December 20 2025) #birds #birding #northernflicker #colaptesauratus 🪶

A Northern Flicker perched on a branch.
Superficially resembles the Yellow-shafted subspecies, but has red mixed into the moustachial stripe (Red-shafted trait), instead of being all black.
"Hybrids" between subspecies are called intergrades.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Landfill frenzy. (Delta BC, December 14 2025) #birds #birding #christmasbirdcount #larus #larusthayeri #larusglaucescens #larusglaucoides #larusglaucoidesthayeri #larusoccidentalis #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #olympicgull #thayersgull #cookinletgull #americanherringgull #larussmithsonianus 🪶

Hundreds of Larus gulls in flight and on the ground, foraging for food scraps on trash mountain.

Landfills have become well-trodden stopover locations for Larus species of the west coast, used by both resident Olympic Gulls and migratory Glaucous-winged Gulls and Cook Inlet hybrids from as far north as southern Alaska, perhaps further. These generalists also spend time foraging in nearby farm fields and Boundary Bay.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Moss (not grass) pulling. (Vancouver BC, Dec 6 2025) #birds #birding #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusoccidentalis #larusglaucescens #larus #gulls #seagulls #gullable #gullible 🪶

An Olympic Gull (Western x Glaucous-winged hybrid) about to take flight with a clump of moss in its bill.

Grass pulling is an intraspecific behaviour indicating aggressive intent to nearby trespassers, "This is what I will do to you."

I have seen gulls pull grass, moss, garbage, leaf litter and dock lines--whatever loose objects or materials are within grabbing distance.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Banded Olympic Gull. (Vancouver BC, Dec 2 2025.) #birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

An adult Olympic Gull (Western x Glaucous-winged hybrid) stands on some park grass, bejewelled with black and blue bands on the left leg, and blue and metal bands on the right.

Report coloured gull bands in the Pacific Northwest region to the Salish Sea Gull Project: https://salishseagullproject.shinyapps.io/submit-observation-form/

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Thayer's Gull. (White Rock BC, November 2025) By the way, there's a new post about the range of American Herring Gull on my blog (link in profile). #birds #birding #larusglaucoidesthayeri #larusglaucoides #thayersgull #gulls #seagulls #gullible #gullable 🪶

A first cycle Thayer's Gull standing on a rock.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Tundra Swan. (Vancouver BC, November 17 2025)

Tundra Swan standing near shore.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Bonaparte's Gull. (White Rock BC, November 8 2025) #bonapartesgull #chroicocephalusphiladelphia #gulls #seagulls #gullable #gullible

A 1st cycle Bonaparte's Gull in flight. The inner rectrices (tail feathers) have been replaced in the preformative moult, leaving behind an incomplete tailband.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Snow Bunting. (Vancouver BC, October 30 2025) #birds #birding #snowbunting #plectrophenaxnivalis 🪶

A Snow Bunting stands low to the rocky ground--round and majestical.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

A juvenile Little Blue Heron, far from home. (Burnaby BC, October 24 2025.) #birds #birding #littleblueheron #egrettacaerulea 🪶

A juvenile Little Blue Heron perched on a branch. Juveniles are all white (like this one), but will eventually moult into a mostly grey plumage.

This is the sixth record for British Columbia.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Golden-crowned Sparrow. (Vancouver BC, October 22 2025) #birds #birding #goldencrownedsparrow #zonotrichiaatricapilla 🪶

A Golden-crowned Sparrow perches on some barbed wire.

The species portion of its scientific name Zonotrichia atricapilla means black-headed or -capped, referring to the lateral stripes on breeding adults. This is similar to the Black-capped Chickadee's scientific name Poecile atricapillus, and more apt for the latter.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Whoops. I'll fix that arrow button in the next update. #gullable #gullible

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Mountain Bluebird. (Vancouver BC, October 22 2025) #birds #birding #mountainbluebird #sialiacurrucoides 🪶

A drab looking Mountain Bluebird perched on a post, lowered tail revealing a bluish rump.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Male Harlequin Duck. (Victoria BC, October 9 2025) #birds #birding #ducks #harlequinduck #histrionicushistrionicus 🪶

A male Harlequin Duck standing on a tidal rock.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Black Turnstone. (Sooke BC, October 9 2025) #birds #birding #blackturnstone 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

For reference, this is a White-crowned Sparrow in juvenile plumage. Notice how streaky it is.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

A young White-crowned Sparrow. #birding #birds #whitecrownedsparrow #zonotrichialeucophrys 🪶

A hatch year (HY) White-crowned Sparrow perched on the tip of some pine needles.

This individual is in its formative plumage, which replaced many of the poor quality juvenile feathers it grew in the nest.

Once this bird moults into its 1st alternate (breeding) plumage, it will become almost impossible to distinguish from an adult.

I have noticed some of my local White-crowns (pugetensis subspecies) retain some brown feathers in the hind crown, allowing me to age them as second years (SY).

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Adult California Gull. (Vancouver BC, September 30 2025) #birds #birding #californiagull #laruscalifornicus #gull #seagull #gullable #gullible 🪶

An adult California Gull in flight. Dusky head markings are part of the basic (nonbreeding) plumage.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Yellow-rumped warbler. #birds #birding #yellowrumpedwarbler #myrtlewarbler #setophagacoronata

A Myrtle Warbler ("myrtle" subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warbler) on a tree branch, holding a stink bug in its bill.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Long-billed Dowitcher. #birds #birding #longbilleddowitcher #limnodromusscolopaceus 🪶

A Long-billed Dowitcher looking towards the camera, with its undulating reflection cast on the water below.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Lincoln's Sparrow. #birding #birds #lincolnssparrow #melospizalincolnii 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Overlooked Olympic Gull. (Vancouver BC, Sept 23 2025) #birding #birds #gulls #seagulls #gullable #gullible #olympicgull #westerngull #glaucouswingedgull #larusoccidentalisxglaucescens #larusoccidentalis #larusglaucescens 🪶

A young Olympic Gull (Western Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull hybrid) stands on the edge of an urban water feature, with water frothing from a fountain behind.

This bird is starting to replace body feathers in the 1st prealternate (prebreeding) moult.

The Lower Mainland is right above the intersection of the breeding ranges of Glaucous-winged Gull to the north and Western Gull to the south.
The resulting hybrid swarm produces a vast array of phenotypes--birds with a unique set of characteristics--as multiple generations of mixed gulls interbreed.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

2 Ring-billed Gulls of different stature. (Vancouver BC, September 12 2025) #birds #birding #ringbilledgull #larusdelawarensis #gulls #seagulls #gullable 🪶

This 1st cycle Ring-billed Gull confused me. It resembles a Short-billed in build, but the plumage aspect is Ring-billed. The dark grey chevron pattern on the scapulars is also interesting.

This is a good reminder to myself to look out for individual variation that deviates from expectations.

A more typical first cycle Ring-billed Gull.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Juvenile Sabine's Gull. #birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #sabinesgull #xemasabini #gullable #gullible

A juvenile Sabine's Gull in flight, with tri-coloured wing pattern on full display.

In Greater Vancouver, Sabine's Gulls are usually seen flying out at sea or high above as they migrate between their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering locations in South America.

All age groups have a distinct tri-coloured winged. Definitely one of the easier gulls to identify.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Savannah Sparrow. #birds #birding #savannahsparrow #passerculussandwichensis

A Savannah Sparrow perched on a leafy Blackberry branch, cast in a warm light.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Western Tanager. #birds #birding #westerntanager #pirangaludoviciana

Female(?) Western Tanager on a lichen-blanketed branch, holding a wasp.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Rhinoceros Auklet. #birding #birds #rhinocerosauklet #cerorhincamonocerata 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Northern Waterthrush mid bob. #birds #birding #northernwaterthrush #parkesianoveboracensis 🪶

A Northern Waterthrush perched on a thorny branch, bobbing its tail high above its head. What a strange warbler. (Yes, it's a warbler, don't get me started.)

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Birds in moult tend to be overlooked, including when being rated in the Macaulay Library. I wish photographers gave these interesting individuals the love they deserve--especially since moult is an important aspect to a bird's life history.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Belted Kingfisher. #birds #birding #kingfisher #megacerylealcyon 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Immature California Gull moulting flight feathers. #birds #birding #californiagull #laruscalifornicus #gulls #seagulls #gullable 🪶

California Gull in flight, displaying its flight feather moult.

Mix of grey and brown upperparts are largely 1st alternate (breeding plumage).

The inner 4 primaries (p1-4) are 2nd cycle, with p5 and p6 growing; p7 is shed or not visible. Primary coverts are also being replaced in similar sequence.

Secondary moult has also commenced, with s1 growing, well after start of primary moult.

(Vancouver BC, August 2 2025)

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

A leap of faith. #birds #birding #harlequinduck #histrionicushistrionicus #ducks 🪶

Harlequin duck mid jump from tidal rock into water below.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Juvenile Olympic Gull in flight. #birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #gullable #olympicgull #westerngull #glaucouswingedgull 🪶

Olympic Gull (Western Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull hybrid) in flight with lingering natal down behind eye.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Greater Yellowlegs. #birds #birding #greateryellowlegs #tringamelanoleuca 🪶

Greater Yellowlegs with the water projecting a rippled reflection below.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

Hello? #birds #birding #treeswallow #tachycinetabicolor 🪶

Tree Swallow staring down a vertical rusty pipe.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Second year White-crowned Sparrow. #birds #birding #whitecrownedsparrow #zonotrichialeucophrys 🪶

Second year White-crowned Sparrow on the ground with bill wide open, revealing the cutest little tongue. Some retained brown juvenile feathers on the hind crown (not visible here), point to this being in its second calendar year. Also note dull brown tail feathers, dirty ventral area and moult limit between the greater coverts.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Swainson's Thrush. #birds #birding #swainsonsthrush #catharusustulatus 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Olympic Gull feeding its young. #birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #gullable #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Olympic type Gulls in the thick of child-rearing season. #birds #birding #gulls #seagulls #gullable #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

Adult long calling as partner arrives to feed young.

Juvenile pecks at parent's bill to encourage regurgitation.

Adult feeds nestlings some mystery flesh.

Adult and juveniles look my way.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Olympic Gull with an interesting iris colour. The pinkish orbital is mixed with yellow, which is presumed to be a Western Gull trait. #birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #glaucouswingedgull #westerngull #larusglaucescens #larusoccidentalis 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Version 1.12.5 of Gullable is available. Images have been added to Glossary and inline definitions. Vega Gull and Slaty-backed Gull have some small additions as well. #gullable #gulls #seagulls

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Ash-throated Flycatcher, a rare visitor to British Columbia. #birds #ashthroatedflycatcher #myiarchuscinerascens #birding 🪶

An Ash-throated Flycatcher perched on a branch. A lifer for me. A large flycatcher relative to the Willows and Westerns I'm used to seeing. I love the rufous tinge to portions of the rectrices and outer primaries.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Does this count as forward-facing? #birds #greatblueheron #ardeaherodias

Juvenile Great Blue Heron showing me what fish see before their demise.

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Female Wilson's Phalarope in breeding plumage. Phalaropes exhibit reverse sexual dimorphism--the female has the brighter plumage. #birds #wilsonsphalarope #phalaropustricolor #birding 🪶

Ethan Moon @ethanmoon.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

What needs to be added to Gullable next? European Herring Gull is on my radar. If someone says an AI chatbot...(*breathe*)...I'll politely say that that falls outside the scope of this project. #birds #gulls #seagulls #olympicgull #gullable

Olympic Gull in its 2nd calendar year. Notice the greyish median coverts and scapulars, which were replaced in the autumn and winter months.