ChipsAhoy!
Well-known member
Interesting. Yet another lesson in never trusting a photo - let alone a single one.
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juv. chat, Wales (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Samuel Perfect
- Start date
Samuel Perfect
Well-known member
As it was only an assumption I wanted to learning a safe way to separate the fledglings of Whinchat and Stonechat without relying on identifying the parent
Samuel Perfect
Well-known member
Apologies for not adding it sooner
It is entirely normal for Stonechat to show a thin whitish outer edge to the outermost tail feather. The difference is in the base of the tail.
http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/334_StonechatStorquatus.pdf
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/4907045
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/3463356
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/3414636
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/3419183
Having said all this, I have to admit that the short primary projection seems to be the main thing pointing away from Whinchat here (if we assume that tail base is completely covered by the uppertail coverts in the photos). If the bird really was associating with Whinchats, the mere presence of a long supercilium may be enough reason to simply assume it must be a Whinchat too. The juvenile plumage of Whinchat and Stonechat is very similar if the pattern of tail and upper tail coverts cannot be seen. I have no strong "need" for proving this bird as either species and was only trying to help, but maybe I am only confusing the issue so I better stop...
http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/334_StonechatStorquatus.pdf
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/4907045
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/3463356
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/3414636
http://waarneming.nl/foto/view/3419183
Having said all this, I have to admit that the short primary projection seems to be the main thing pointing away from Whinchat here (if we assume that tail base is completely covered by the uppertail coverts in the photos). If the bird really was associating with Whinchats, the mere presence of a long supercilium may be enough reason to simply assume it must be a Whinchat too. The juvenile plumage of Whinchat and Stonechat is very similar if the pattern of tail and upper tail coverts cannot be seen. I have no strong "need" for proving this bird as either species and was only trying to help, but maybe I am only confusing the issue so I better stop...
Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
ChipsAhoy!
Well-known member
I always hope that none of us feels that in this forum! I'm sure we're all objective seekers after The Truth
Definitely have done. Good - if confusing - stuff |=)|
