White spots on the throat of a Swallow? (1 Viewer)

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Jun 24, 2010

• #1

Took several shots of this bird today,one of a pr nesting in a neighbours shed,not the usual locals,a new pr,recently arrived about 1 week ago.Noticed the white markings on the throat.Would they be mites/lice/ticks?.First time I have seen this on a Swallows plumage..Often seen on Housemartins ,actual mites attached to the outside of the plumage.but not on a Swallow.
Thankyou,
Christine.

 

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christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Jun 24, 2010

• #2

Do,I need to post a larger full size shot,as one cannot zoom in on this screen,as one can do at home?.

 

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Jun 24, 2010

• #3

Does no one have any ideas,or has anyone never seen this before on a swallows plumage?.I certainly have not,and I do take many,many Swallow shots.

 

B

birding maniac

Michael M

• Jun 25, 2010

• #4

Hi, I think it is just under feathers protruding

 

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Jun 25, 2010

• #5

Thanks BF maniac,so does this mean that this is perhaps a young Swallow?.

 

Jon Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 25, 2010

• #6

Not with a red throat like that. Juvs are much less brightly coloured.

 

B

birding maniac

Michael M

• Jun 27, 2010

• #7

Just an adult with plumage not sitting right

 

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Jun 27, 2010

• #8

Thanks all.I hav eseen this Swallow again,and taken shots,and the white spots are still visible.As I have said prev,the 1st time I have seen this on the plumage of a Swallow.

 

rosbifs

PutAin STOP

• Jun 28, 2010

• #9

Might sound silly but perhaps it is age but old not young!!

 

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Jun 28, 2010

• #10

Thanks rosbif.He /she is still around,they are nesting in a neighbours shed 2 doors down,so are often perched in our yard,and these white spots are still there.Just wonder who else might know.RSPB,BTO,anyone any ideas,has anyone else ever seen a Swallow with this odd plumage/.

 

Sy V

Well-known member

• Jun 30, 2010

• #11

Christine

Not to the same extent as yours but here's one I pictured nest building a couple of weeks ago... perhaps one white dot visible.

 

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DunnoKev

Guest

• Jul 1, 2010

• #12

The pale colouration is usually the base of a feather, showing like this thanks to others being missing. I ring at a site where we process c. 5,000 swallows an autumn, and we see quite a few like this. I'm afraid I've only access to one poor photo at the moment which shows one clear 'white patch', plus quite a bit of white on out of place feathers around a very strange injury; the bird had pierced the soft underside of its bill on reedbed vegetation, which had clearly been in place some time form how dried out it was (before anyone asks, the vegetation was removed and the wound treated with antiseptic wipe before release).

 

Last edited: May 31, 2011

F

FrankL

Active member

• Jul 2, 2010

• #13

Probably just the feathers laying down a certain way.

Frank Lardino

 

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Jul 2, 2010

• #14

Thanks Sy and Kev.Yes,Kev,your explanation does make sense.The bird in question is a male,and my neighbour has fixed a camera near the nest in his shed,so ,hopefully when the eggs are hatched I will be able to see the chicks.
Many thanks to all who replied to my query.

 

nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

• Jul 4, 2010

• #15

I was watching a programme on Arte (French/German Channel) on the wildlife in the Chernobyl exclusion zone - they mentioned there being a very high proportion of the swallows breeding there that had white spots on the throat (and other things such as diffferent length wings and tail streamers), they also had a very low reproduction rate.