White Wagtail, Sinai (1 Viewer)

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2011

• #1

What's to be made of this?

Since I found it late last March I've assumed it was a first winter moulting into summer garb, but I've seen no other illustrations anywhere or even photos to confirm this.

Am I right in my assumption, or is it something more complicated? 27th March seems late to be still coming out of winter plumage.

EDIT: Oops wrong thread. Meant to put it in the ID section. Can the mods help out?

 

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robinm

Registered User

• Jun 24, 2011

• #2

Barred Wobbler said:

EDIT: Oops wrong thread. Meant to put it in the ID section. Can the mods help out?

Click to expand...

Yes

 

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2011

• #3

Thanks Robin

 

A

Alan Tilmouth

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2011

• #4

Alan, BWP makes reference to moult being halted mid-september irrespective of stage reached and late hatched individuals may moult part of head and body or nothing at all; not sure if this helps.

 

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2011

• #5

Might be the answer Alan, but even with an arrested moult, would it not have resumed or been completed by late March? That's where I'm puzzled.

Most of the white wagtails I saw were pretty straightforward, but looking back at some of my photos there were one or two that were 'different'. Could be just moult?

These on 16th March

 

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Alan Tilmouth

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2011

• #6

Dunno, Svensson states 1st year birds without any black on head can't be positively sexed so maybe this 'state' is an uncommon moult variant that occurs occasionally?

 

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2011

• #7

That's what I put it down to at first, but I thought I'd see if the wider world thought the same.

Whatever it is, it was a bloody good looking bird (and tame!).