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Queen Elizabeth NP - Uganda (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Valéry Schollaert
- Start date
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Yes Tib, you are right as I've seen the bird singing and flapping like it. However, I was with my staff, trying to train them on bird identification, and honestly with the birdbooks we have, it is impossible to ID on plumage: there is no drawing in Birds of East Africa nor Sinclair's Birds of Africa that is matching the op individual, and even in text no one is speaking of dark-grey form...
I'm therefore looking for more detailed comment about how to identify such a bird (it is obviously feasible - you did it!) without the song ans behaviour...
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Thanks Neil,
My HBW's are in Belgium... and me in Uganda. However, I try to help local people, my students, my staff, local guides, to identify the birds with what is available. Even getting Birds of East Africa is an issue here, HBW is just impossible...
I just wondered which physical features we can use to ID such a bird here (I bet kawirondensis is not in Western Uganda but somewhere in Kenya)... or is it the only dark grey lark around?
My HBW's are in Belgium... and me in Uganda. However, I try to help local people, my students, my staff, local guides, to identify the birds with what is available. Even getting Birds of East Africa is an issue here, HBW is just impossible...
I just wondered which physical features we can use to ID such a bird here (I bet kawirondensis is not in Western Uganda but somewhere in Kenya)... or is it the only dark grey lark around?
If you have access to the 'net then why not subscribe to the online verion of HBW not very expensive but a 'treasure-trove' of info!
Tom
And no, it is not the only subspecies that is somewhat dark, even though it may be the blackest
These are the two most likely subspecies in Uganda it seems, with the usual caveat that there might be things that are not completely known
I cannot help with the more general question, I hope Tib comes back
Niels
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Thanks Neils, and Tom too... I didn't think of the online verion of HBW.
I think Jane Turner got it recently, so she might have some useful input to divulge.
The quotes I made is from the online version. I have the basic subscription -- notice the yellow bar near the bottom about the registration fee which is basically waived for everyone registering this year.
I have read about but not tried something they call custom plates (or somesuch) where you include the birds you want to put together. Here is a longer discussion of HBW alive: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=238858
Niels
I have read about but not tried something they call custom plates (or somesuch) where you include the birds you want to put together. Here is a longer discussion of HBW alive: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=238858
Niels
Tib78
Well-known member
Ever heard of jizz Valéry? :-O
More seriously I am not too sure I can help you in this case. As it was really the general feel of the bird that told me Flappet lark straight away.
One pointer though: a Mirafra lark showing the combination of this bill shape (i.e not too disimilar to Rufous-naped but not as finch-like as White-tailed for example) and such a dark back is generally a Flappet.
But those larks display such a wide range of local variation that it's difficult to explain what to look for in order to ID them. And I'd say that personnal field experience is crucial and irreplaceable in many cases...
Obviously that's not the kind of answer you were seeking for your staff but that's the best I can do.
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
It's ok Tib, thanks anyway. I was just trying to reply them better than what I did, seeing that they had no chance with their books and limited experience to ID this bird, especially than "regular" (browner) Flappet Larks also occur in the park (I'll try to get photos of them next time).
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
