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Mystery birds on Cocos Islands (1 Viewer)

Tom Tarrant

Bird and Wildlife Tour Guide
Opus Editor
Australia
Don Hadden, a bird-photographer currently resident on the Cocos Islands (in the Indian Ocean) has just sent me several images of birds that could be rarities for the Australian region. I believe one may be a juvenile Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus) and another might be a Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes).
There is also a possibility that the latter could be a hybrid.

We would be grateful for any comments regarding the ID of these two birds.

Images can be seen on the ABID at:
http://www.aviceda.org/abid/newimages.php
http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=49&bid=1539
http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdimage&bid=1535&fid=72&p=3&pagesize=1

Tom
 

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  • Egret at dump CRW_4605.jpg
    Egret at dump CRW_4605.jpg
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  • Eastern Reef Egret grey morph CRW_4518.jpg
    Eastern Reef Egret grey morph CRW_4518.jpg
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  • Eastern Reef Egret grey morph CRW_5073.jpg
    Eastern Reef Egret grey morph CRW_5073.jpg
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Looking at the image:http://www.aviceda.org/abid/images/data/1134125277.jpg, it seems abnormal in that the upper mandible has grown longer than the under. which gives the impression of being longer than it really is. Looking at several images of the two, it seems that Chinese has a more pointed bill and it looks more slender, compared to Pacific Reef. It also looks as if the bill of Chinese is as long, or shorther than the tibia. Would a Little Egret mix be to far out?

http://www.birdskorea.org/chineg.asp

http://www.wwfchina.org/birdgallery/birdpic.shtm?booknum=536

JanJ
 
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