JOHN KRICHER

The seemingly contorted image of this issue’s mystery bird is clearly a waterbird. It appears to be primarily black and white, even when viewed on the Bird Observer website. Using the position of its wings for reference, we can tell the bird is diving from left to right. Unfortunately, its head is under water, so this feature is of little value as an identification aid. The only other obvious characteristic is that the bird looks to be countershaded, meaning that it is mostly black above and at least partially white below. This coloration pattern is typical of many waterbirds that surface dive for their food because it makes them less conspicuous to their underwater prey; their white underparts become less visible when seen against the brightness of the water’s surface or against a bright overhead sky.