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Just another Northern Wheatear?? (1 Viewer)

Steve G

RAINBIRDER
This bird was pictured locally in late September. It was very approachable, appeared somewhat leggy whilst on the ground & seemed to have a broader black tailband than I'm used to seeing on the local Wheatears. I treated this as a Northern Wheatear at the time & now seek reassurance! ;)
 

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Looks good for Northern to me. Too much contrast for Isabelline and all the other brown wheatears I can think of offhand are daintier (less heavily built) - at least the ones that turn up in Britain are.

Jason
 
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I'd agree that it looks like Northern but would be interested in any comments on the tail pattern. That looks like a lot more black than on a regular Northern.
 
Fifebirder said:
I'd agree that it looks like Northern but would be interested in any comments on the tail pattern. That looks like a lot more black than on a regular Northern.
Hi Fifey, that was my feeling also when seeing it in the flesh. It seemed a little more leggy & generally "bolder" in both behaviour & appearance so Jane's suggestion of a Greenland bird sounds reasonable-do these tend to show thicker black banding & less pronounced T effect than the standard wimp Wheatears?
 
Hi Steve,
Looks like a Northern,albeit with a little more black on the tail than usual.A bird turned up locally Oct.02 that was thought to be a female Desert initially,but it turned out to be an aberrant Northern.Almost had a fully black tail even when fully spread!
Harry H
 
Harry Hussey said:
Hi Steve,
Looks like a Northern,albeit with a little more black on the tail than usual.A bird turned up locally Oct.02 that was thought to be a female Desert initially,but it turned out to be an aberrant Northern.Almost had a fully black tail even when fully spread!
Harry H
Thanks all for your comments. I was very interested in your post Harry. Was it felt that this aberrant N. Wheatear was of Greenland origin or just a weird local?
 
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