(11-19-2021, 06:58 AM)Michigan Swamp Buck Wrote: I'm into the idea that the thunder bird legend is related to the teratorns that went extinct around 10,000 years ago. Of course, a current sighting of an unknown species may not relate to my pet theory and your description of the bill you saw on this bird certainly rules that out. That is unless there has been, or maybe now, a related species that developed that characteristic you describe, a bill something more like a parrot than an eagle.
So, would you say that the bird you saw looked like an extremely large golden eagle but with a bill like you described? It would be interesting to create a composite photo of what you saw and include something to indicate scale. Very cool subject and sighting.
Yup, I'd say the shape was generally like a golden eagle with a heavier bill, but the color scheme was darker than a golden eagle, as close to solid black as one can get. Now, in all honesty, I don't think it precludes a teratorn connection. All we have of teratorns is the underlying bone, and there can be all manner of flesh, feathers, and keratin covering that bone and filling it in to the general shapes I saw, and the size is right.
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Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’