Column: Why photos can actually make fall bird identification harder

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 5, 2026

Photos have been the bane of my existence for the last few weeks. Birds that change plumage seasonally have now done so, and many don’t look like themselves. It’s hard enough to identify birds in confusing fall plumage. It can be even harder to identify them from a photo. You wouldn’t think so. You would think that a photo gives you plenty of time to study a bird’s field marks, perhaps comparing the image to pictures in a guidebook. Alas, it often doesn’t work that way. A photo is limited to one angle of viewing, perhaps showing a few field marks but concealing others. Overexposure can wash out details. Underexposure can conceal subtle colors. Reflected light from foliage can tint the bird’s color greenish. ~ Bob Duchesne