Confirm juvenile Cormorant please - London UK (1 Viewer)

ChrisKten

It's true, I quite like Pigeons

• Jan 28, 2010

• #1

Seen at my local Reservoirs this morning. It was keeping away from the other Cormorants, and stayed behind when all of the rest flew off. I just wanted to confirm that the white plumage is because it's a juv.

Not the best of pictures, as the light was bad (the Weather man lied again |=)|) and it's quite a heavy crop.


Thanks.

 

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DaveN

Derwent Valley Birder

• Jan 28, 2010

• #2

Yes Chris, It is because it's a young bird.

 

ChrisKten

It's true, I quite like Pigeons

• Jan 28, 2010

• #3

Thanks, Dave, I thought it was, but I like to confirm it.

It was the only juv that I spotted today, but I did notice the Grey Herons were in their old nests and squabbling. So looks like they'll be breeding soon.

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Jan 28, 2010

• #4

Juvenile Gt. Cormorant. If you were hoping for anything else, ( I was going to say the obvious but I'm in a rather restrained mood today :t: ) Cormorant has a much thicker/ heavier bill and the belly is the palest part of the undersides, unlike Shag which has the breast paler.
Chris

 

B

Barry Hunt

Well-known member

• Jan 30, 2010

• #5

Hi all,

According to the rather excellent book Frontiers in Birding does this bird look as though it has a chance of being a "sinensis" ? I've never really got into Cormorant races but with Chris's photos I might learn something.

Barry

 

ChrisKten

It's true, I quite like Pigeons

• Jan 30, 2010

• #6

barrybirder said:

Hi all,

According to the rather excellent book Frontiers in Birding does this bird look as though it has a chance of being a "sinensis" ? I've never really got into Cormorant races but with Chris's photos I might learn something.

Barry

Click to expand...

I do have a few more pictures of this bird, Barry, but from what I've read here it might not be enough to confirm subspecies.

EDIT: wrong thread, I don't have more pictures of this bird.|=)|

Another EDIT: I just re-checked; I do have a few more pictures of this bird.

 

Last edited: Jan 30, 2010

J

James Lidster

Well-known member

• Mar 19, 2010

• #7

it looks like a classic sinensis to me, with the square rear edge to the gular patch, a nice over 90 degree angle in the top left croner of the gular patch and the lower most point of the patch falling level with or behind the eye.
Cheers
James