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- Thread starter LzyPhotographer
- Start date
Michael Frankis
conehead
I wonder for how much longer . . . looks a good candidate for a species split to me!robinm said:
Michael
Grousemore
Senior Member
They certainly look different from each other;what are the criteria for a species split?
Michael Frankis
conehead
Good one CJ!
For starters though, you won't get those large orange flank spots on even a subadult male Hen Harrier (no more than faint streaking, pure white on adult male), whereas Northern has them on even full adult males.
Juvenile Northerns are also much more orange colour, more like a juv Montagu's in colour tone (tho' not structure!) than a juv Hen.
Adult females are more difficult, but then, so are female American/Eurasian Wigeons difficult . . . (and female Green-winged/Common Teals probably impossible, but I suspect this split isn't justified!)
Michael
For starters though, you won't get those large orange flank spots on even a subadult male Hen Harrier (no more than faint streaking, pure white on adult male), whereas Northern has them on even full adult males.
Juvenile Northerns are also much more orange colour, more like a juv Montagu's in colour tone (tho' not structure!) than a juv Hen.
Adult females are more difficult, but then, so are female American/Eurasian Wigeons difficult . . . (and female Green-winged/Common Teals probably impossible, but I suspect this split isn't justified!)
Michael
Grousemore
Senior Member
My query about criteria for a split was more of a general one,but anyway CJW has answered that!Michael Frankis said:
The differences between Northern/Hen are very apparent in the field and as you say,particularly with juveniles.
LzyPhotographer
Well-known member
Great, another first for me! Of course, it's not hard listing all these firsts, coz I've only been bird watching a short time. ;-) Guess my next mission is to find it again and get some better pictures.
Thanks for your input, it's all so very interesting!
Thanks for your input, it's all so very interesting!