There was a raging controversy (some would say “mild debate”) last week over whether the turtle above was a Red-eared Slider of a Painted Turtle.
We came across this additional pic of the little guy, and we now conclude that it’s a Painted Turtle, as Patrick Carney suggested.
There’s no red ear stripe, and it isn’t on a bun.
Link to earlier post is here.
Happy it turned out to be the native turtle, too :).
The painted turtle call feels right — the absence of the red ear stripe is the field mark I’d trust over size, since hatchlings can be deceptively small. Lovely to see reader suggestions credited properly; the eye for detail there earned that mention. A small post, but a good lesson in careful ID work. Best, YearstoHuman