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White Wagtail, Taiwan (1 Viewer)

modrawnu

Active member
Here is another "grey back, no eyestripe" wagtail in Taiwan, but no rump picture available this time. Could this one be baicalensis or just variation of leucopsis again ?
IMO, the great coverts are two-aged, thus first-summer is more possible. Could baicalensis show the pattern of secondary coverts like this?

Thanks.

Date: 24th March, 2017
Location: Ilan County, Taiwan
 

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WOW! Thanks for your ID, Grahame.

Actually, the baicalensis is a mega rarity in Taiwan. Only one record was confirmed in last March. I want to make sure that it's O.K. for the white pannel pattern of greater/median coverts in this one ?

Ting-Wei
 
I agree with adult male baicalensis on this one. The mantle does look too pale for leucopsis, and the sharp contrast with the black nape/crown is very obvious.

I don't think there's a problem with the pattern of white on the coverts. The pattern looks quite similar to the pattern I expect on male ocularis, which can have a surprisingly white wing panel. Compared to the other bird you posted recently you can see that the greater coverts have dark centres, which I would not expect on a leucopsis. Also I would normally expect to see darker lesser coverts on a leucopsis - although these are often hidden by other feathers I find that you can sometimes see a darker patch at the bend of the wing.

Finally, you can see that the flanks on this bird are grey. Leucopsis should usually have white flanks. This is a feature suggested in Alstrom & Mild's book, but I haven't seen discussed much elsewhere. It may be useful I think.

Congratulations on your find, it's a great record. I've been looking for a bird like this in Hong Kong but we still don't have a confirmed record of baicalensis here.
 
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