Panjin, Liaoning, China (1 Viewer)

Owen Krout · Jul 13, 2016

I thought at first by the general size and shape, stubby wings and tail that I had a Daurian Starling in these pics, but the bill color and the white outline on the tail don't match the books. In riparian mixed woodland, immediately adjacent to apartment block. Sorry about the poor quality, but only got a chance for a few quick shots. It is the same bird as it only moved a short distance to the wires before flying off.

xuky.summer · Jul 13, 2016

looks more like a juv Red-billed Starling, but I can't explain the white tail.

Owen Krout · Jul 14, 2016

xuky.summer said:
looks more like a juv Red-billed Starling, but I can't explain the white tail.

Hmmm... I hadn't considered that as it is far out of the range shown in the guides. That does look generally better though if the plumage was faded.

johnallcock · Jul 14, 2016

I would say this is Daurian. The overall structure (especially head/bill shape and short tail) looks right. I wonder if maybe the bill is paler because it is a juvenile, which seems to be the case with other starlings (e.g. White-shouldered).
The tail pattern looks fine for Daurian. They seem to have a white fringe to the outer tail feathers on several of the pictures on OBI, eg: http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=22&Bird_ID=2516&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1&Location=

Owen Krout · Jul 15, 2016

johnallcock said:
I would say this is Daurian. The overall structure (especially head/bill shape and short tail) looks right. I wonder if maybe the bill is paler because it is a juvenile, which seems to be the case with other starlings (e.g. White-shouldered).
The tail pattern looks fine for Daurian. They seem to have a white fringe to the outer tail feathers on several of the pictures on OBI, eg: http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=22&Bird_ID=2516&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1&Location=

I have decided to count it as a Daurian. For the reasons that you give here and that there is a localized concentration of Daurian in that immediate area this year. I have gone back and looked at previous shots that I have of Daurian juveniles and this is a paler version. I did not observe the tail pattern on the previous individuals, but I didn't have any shots from that angle either.

Thanks for the help to everyone who both looked and who responded.

Panjin, Liaoning, China (1 Viewer)

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