Racial ID, sex and age of vagrant White Wagtail- North Western Australia (1 Viewer)

Dimitris · Oct 23, 2013

Howdy folks,

I was lucky enough to be part of a group that found this White Wagtail Today at Point Samson in northern Western Australia.

We currently believe this bird to be of the race leucopsis, but would like confirmation. We also think that it may be a young bird.

There are more images, but they do not offer any additional information.

Thanks in advance,

D.

Dimitris · Oct 24, 2013

johnallcock · Oct 24, 2013

I would think that the mantle is a shade too pale for leucopsis, even a first-winter female, although I have been caught out before by pale-backed leucopsis. I think on the third photo it seems (although I'm not certain) that the rump may also be pale, which would fit one of the grey-backed taxa (if you have any photos showing a bit more of the rump, that would be very useful). Also I think the bib on the second photo is slightly more extensive onto the sides of the throat than I would expect for leucopsis, although this varies with the stage of moult.
On this basis I would suggest that it is baicalensis or alba/dukhunensis. Alstrom and Mild suggest that these taxa may be difficult or impossible to separate in non-breeding plumage.

As for age & sex, I'm not entirely sure. The greater and median coverts have broad white fringes, which suggests an adult to me. Grey crown uniform with mantle would probably suggest female. But I'm not entirely confident with this.

Congratulations on your find.

viator · Oct 24, 2013

Can't add anything to John's analysis but again congrats on this vagrant find - a great find irrespective of subspecies!

Dimitris · Oct 24, 2013

Thanks folks. I have some back shots so I willsee whatican do.

MacNara · Oct 25, 2013

On my screen, the face looks yellowish. In our local ssp in central Japan, M.a. lugens, this indicates a first winter bird. But maybe it's just an artefact, or doesn't have this meaning for other ssp.

MacNara · Oct 25, 2013

Here is a map of White Wagtail distribution I found somewhere (maybe someone on BF posted it) and stored on my computer.

M.a. alba would have come a very long way to get to Australia.

(If someone knows where this map comes from and it's copyright, please let me know, and take it down if necessary.)

chris butterworth · Oct 25, 2013

The 'yellow' on the face is probably staining, it looks more rufous toned than yellow to me. It's definitely an adult by the amount of white on the wing coverts. The amount of white on the coverts ( almost a solid block on #3 ) would seem to rule out dukhunensis but right for baicalensis. The crown in #3 looks rather darker than the mantle, as well as being slightly stained brown, which, IMO, would suggest a male.

Chris

Dimitris · Nov 1, 2013

Hey folks,

Just attaching an image which confirms that this bird has a grey rump.

This, along with all the other features, makes it baicalensis correct?

Cheers,

D.

johnallcock · Nov 1, 2013

MacNara said:
Here is a map of White Wagtail distribution I found somewhere (maybe someone on BF posted it) and stored on my computer.

M.a. alba would have come a very long way to get to Australia.

The map is slightly misleading. Dukhunensis is very similar to alba, with a black chin and throat. The picture seems to show a non-breeding bird. Dukhunensis also breeds further east than shown (I have seen it in Mongolia). Dukhunensis and alba are synonymised by Alstrom and Mild, who consider the only difference to be that eastern 'alba' (i.e. dukhunensis) has more white in the wing. (This is the reason I stated dukhunensis/alba previously).

Breeding baicalensis should have a head pattern similar to leucopsis, with a white face (including chin) and black bib. In non-breeding the bib becomes smaller.

From my understanding, Alstrom and Mild also consider that dukhunensis is doubtfully separable from baicalensis in non-breeding plumage. There may be a tendency for more white in the wing for baicalensis, but how reliable this is, I am not sure.

Jeff Davies · Nov 1, 2013

G'day Dimitris,

I'm not real confident your bird is baicalensis, looks more like a first winter female leucopsis to me.
Your last photo shows the rump well enough to indicate that it is effectively the same tone as the tail for as far up the centre of the rump as is visible. The shot showing the head turned away shiows that the grey on the head is identical to that on the back so it is unlikely to be a male.

Cheers Jeff.

Dimitris · Nov 2, 2013

Thank you Jeff,

However, I have to disagree about the upper parts coloration which is slightly darker than the rest of the upper parts. IMO the rump is also paler grey than the tale.

The barred median and greater coverts, along with the black bib rising to nearly the cheeks are also not in favor of leucopsis including young females according to Alstrom and Mild.

A couple more images showing the darker head are attached.

Cheers,

D.

lostinjapan · Nov 2, 2013

I would have to say 'leucopsis', as it resembles birds I saw in SW Japan but as John says to sperate in winter or immature plumages is tough from 'baicalensis'.

I don't have any experience with 'dukhunensis'.

Flight shots, calls and feathers for DNA might help further.

Sean

Racial ID, sex and age of vagrant White Wagtail- North Western Australia (1 Viewer)

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