Variable Wheateater? Al Ain, UAE (1 Viewer)

Hi.

Is this Variable Wheateater? U guys have helped me ID a similar bird some days back. I guess this is the same. Please confirm.


http://www.fsquares.com/bis/Photo.aspx?q=3414

Thankx In Advance.
Shah

Hi Shah.

It's a Hume's Wheatear.

Twite.

Hi Shah.

Both Variable Wheatear (Eastern Pied Wheatear) of picata race and Hume´s Wheatear are possible in UAE, Hume´s more frequent though.
Variable picata males are very similar to Hume´s but Hume´s looks bigger headed with a slightly bigger bill, more uppright stance and has more - broader white on back, between the black end of the tail band and upper back (not seen in your image). Hume´s usually has rich glossy black parts of the plumage - not seen in your image, (if not to worn) which Variable picata lacks. The breast pattern differ - Variable picata the black extend further down on to the upper breats, usually ends further up on Hume´s , hardly reching on to the upper breast.

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=13580

On this male picata it seems as the black on the breast reches high up, but it does rech the upper breast:

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=10384

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=9714

http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/130-Thrushes/EasternPiedWheatear/EasternPiedWheatear.htm

Note the buffish undertail coverts in this picata from Oman sometimes seen in winter on picata - not to my knowledge on Hume´s.

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=14857

Hume´s:

http://www.pbase.com/clive_temple/image/51256033

http://www.pbase.com/clive_temple/image/70355539

http://www.oiseaux.net/photos/aurelien.audevard/hume.s.wheatear.1.html#alpha

http://www.oiseaux.net/photos/aurelien.audevard/hume.s.wheatear.2.html#alpha


Your Wheatear is most likely a Hume´s (I say most likely to be on the safe side)

JanJ

Hi.

I'm guilty of being less cautious than JANJ.

JAN du er mer ofta rätt än förorätta.

Twite.

Thankx a lot JanJ and Twite. Thats really cool. Thank You Once again.

Hope I can be like you one day

Regards

Shah

3

Twite said:

Hi.

I'm guilty of being less cautious than JANJ.

JAN du er mer ofta rätt än förorätta.

Twite.

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