[AdamfromCanada]

1) Some sort of kite, not far from Kenyan border and not far from Lake Victoria.

2 & 3) Possibly dimorphic egrets? Both seen on back-to-back days at great distance, both in Indian Ocean along east coast of Zanzibar (almost the same spot). The white one has yellow feet, but looks large for Little Egret. Gray one seems not colourful enough for any of the heron options.

4) House Sparrow? Also in Zanzibar.

[The Falcon]

#1 Black Kite
#2 Little Egret
#3 looks fine for Grey Heron

[AdamfromCanada]

Thanks Falcon. I've added a fourth bird as well. House Sparrow?

[The Falcon]

Originally Posted by AdamfromCanada

Thanks Falcon. I've added a fourth bird as well. House Sparrow?

No problem. Yes, it's a House Sparrow.

[MacNara]

Or Yellow-billed Kite, of the parasiticus sub-type if you agree that this is a separate species.

In the lightened photo, you can (I think) see the bill is yellow, not black, and the light-coloured underwing pattern. You can't really see the head colour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-billed_Kite

[tconzemi]

Yellow billed Kite
Dimorphic Egret
Dimorphic Egret
House Sparrow

[MacNara]

Originally Posted by tconzemi

2: Dimorphic Egret
3: Dimorphic Egret

For number 2, the yellow of the foot seems to reach up the leg a little, which would be good for dimorphic. But as the OP says it looked too big for a Little (and was far away, so size would be difficult to judge anyway), and Dimorphic is the same size as little, how can you be sure it's not Great Egret?

For number 3, the bill is all black, and the legs seem to be too, so not Grey Heron; but (I've never seen this bird) I thought dimorphic would be more uniform in colour, and a bit darker than this. Why couldn't it be Black-headed, for example? Is it the bill shape and darkness?

I'm not disputing the identification, but I'd be grateful for any pointers as to what makes you sure of dimorphic in both cases.

[tconzemi]

Originally Posted by MacNara

For number 2, the yellow of the foot seems to reach up the leg a little, which would be good for dimorphic. But as the OP says it looked too big for a Little (and was far away, so size would be difficult to judge anyway), and Dimorphic is the same size as little, how can you be sure it's not Great Egret?

For number 3, the bill is all black, and the legs seem to be too, so not Grey Heron; but (I've never seen this bird) I thought dimorphic would be more uniform in colour, and a bit darker than this. Why couldn't it be Black-headed, for example? Is it the bill shape and darkness?

I'm not disputing the identification, but I'd be grateful for any pointers as to what makes you sure of dimorphic in both cases.

Hi
I have seen and photographed the species at same location
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=5&p=122910
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=5&p=122414

Great Egret is much larger, different bill color, again size is difficult if you do not have different species to compare
Dimorphic dark phase can be rather grayish in the strong sunlight like in Sanzibar


Hope this helps

[MacNara]

Thanks.

[MacNara]

For tconzemi:

PS I looked at your great photos of the two phases. In the dark phase it looks like the legs are almost all yellow, whereas in the white phase, yellow seems to go only up to the ankle. Is this a regular thing, or is the leg colour a very variable feature?

[tconzemi]

@ MacNara
the leg color is very variable in both morphs but many had yellow quite high up the legs

[AdamfromCanada]

Originally Posted by tconzemi

Hi
I have seen and photographed the species at same location
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=5&p=122910
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=5&p=122414

Great Egret is much larger, different bill color, again size is difficult if you do not have different species to compare
Dimorphic dark phase can be rather grayish in the strong sunlight like in Sanzibar


Hope this helps

Thanks again for the IDs everyone. I'm happy to get some confirmation on dimorphic...hadn't seen that bird before!