Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
Where and when was No 1 taken?
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4 british birds (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Peter 255
- Start date
deborah4
Well-known member
The Firecrest said:
Perhaps you could explain what's wrong with the habitat? (going on the pic)
I agree tails not good in terms of posture, but the smooth rufous tones of mantle, and the darker rufous tones of tail, along with prominant black eye with white surround makes it a little closer to nightingale than a wren! Happy to go with majority though on female whitethroat.
deborah4
Well-known member
Jane Turner
Well-known member
2 is a female Whitethroat and the Phyllosc is a Chiffchaff
Reasons why Whitethroat and not Nightingale
1. Eye crescents
2. Greyish ear coverts
3.White throat with sharp demarcation to cream upper breast
4. No grey/brownish breast
5. Wing coverts and tertials the most rusty part of the bird.
Also its very slim
Reasons why Whitethroat and not Nightingale
1. Eye crescents
2. Greyish ear coverts
3.White throat with sharp demarcation to cream upper breast
4. No grey/brownish breast
5. Wing coverts and tertials the most rusty part of the bird.
Also its very slim
Attachments
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
Nice one, Jane, very thorough. (and perched on bracken rather than hiding in damp scrub is also a very strong pointer) Are you also concurring 100% on the Whimbrel?
Graham
Graham
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Yes - didn't think that was in doubt. I do have concerns over the Spot Fly though - it looks a little long in the tail and short in the wing and small-headed. If it was in pure silhouette I'd probably have guessed at Dunnock. As it is I'm just not certain its a Spott fly
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
FWIW, I'm certain that it is a spot-fly. One of my first ever birds and all-time favourites - they used to perch on the wires like this in the farmyard at my gran's.
deborah4
Well-known member
I certainly think there was some doubt with no 2, but happy to defer to 'expert' opinion, as I said at beginning, I wasn't sure and Whitethroat more likely. I agree the Whimbrel is straightforward - the 'flycatcher' looks a bit Wheatearish, but again not a very clear pic. On closer look, perhaps not!!
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deborah4
Well-known member
Colin said:
Hi Colin
Think we're looking at the same pic
see what you mean about the brown 'cap' but it's most certainly a Chiff Chaff: Note the whitish super (which does offset the crown), yellow/buff tones to belly and flanks, and tones of mantle (blackcap is much greyer, with much paler belly) etc, general confusion is normally with Willow - there's lots of other threads around to help with that, most reliable distinction would probably be primary projection if visible, but there are facial features that contribute, along with leg and bill colour (latter subject to occasional variation).Hope that helps
Colin
Axeman (Retired)
HI Deborah,deborah4 said:Hi Colin
Think we're looking at the same pic
Hope that helps
The brown cap stands out like a sore thumb but it may be my monitor. It was my first impression and I still think is it a Blackcap.
deborah4
Well-known member
http://www.birdphotography.co.uk/Blackcap.htm
http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/images/blackcap3.jpg
try a comparison
(you may be right, I just don't know anything anymore, these Id threads ..... arrrg! :-O B )
why stop there B B B B B
http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/images/blackcap3.jpg
try a comparison
(you may be right, I just don't know anything anymore, these Id threads ..... arrrg! :-O B
)why stop there B
B B B B
Colin
Axeman (Retired)
Hi Deborah,
I see what you mean with the comparison pics you list. The cap on our subject bird is slightly smaller than the two you illustrate and there is a light stripe over the eye but that is the same colour as under the eye and cheeks on my monitor and I would not describe it as a supercilium.
It can be very difficult with still pictures without jizz and without the bird moving through different light and angles. Then there is another problem with monitors and the way they show colours (this is a nightmare with gull mantles). I am using a laptop and colours vary even with the angle of the screen relative to the keyboard. Having said all that I can see how a Chiffchaff could come out of this. May be it's a Chiffcap!!!! Now I need a B
I see what you mean with the comparison pics you list. The cap on our subject bird is slightly smaller than the two you illustrate and there is a light stripe over the eye but that is the same colour as under the eye and cheeks on my monitor and I would not describe it as a supercilium.
It can be very difficult with still pictures without jizz and without the bird moving through different light and angles. Then there is another problem with monitors and the way they show colours (this is a nightmare with gull mantles). I am using a laptop and colours vary even with the angle of the screen relative to the keyboard. Having said all that I can see how a Chiffchaff could come out of this. May be it's a Chiffcap!!!! Now I need a B
I'm going to sit in the Nightingale camp on this one. Sorry Jane, but regarding most of the features you have described, I dont see them as being pro Whitethroat.
I dont think the eye crescents are clear enough to see in this pic, especially the blown up one. However, the apparent grey tinge to the ear coverts would favour Nightingale, surely?
The white throat doesn't look clearly marked to me at all. The shadow on the bird cuts across the birds throat, making it appear more clearly marked than it is. The chest and underparts aren't dark enough either. More in favour of Nightingale.
There is a slight sandy brown tinge to the breast, which is more in favour of Nightingale, as Whitethroat would be darker.
I see next to no contrast between Tertials/coverts colouration and the back of the bird, which is what you'd expect in Whitethroat. It is a near-uniform warm brown colour, as in Nightingale.
Also, the stance is classic; alert, with a cocked tail
Sorry to contradict you, but that just my opinion.
Agree with Chiff, though. Primary projection is perfect.
Jason
Jane Turner said:
I dont think the eye crescents are clear enough to see in this pic, especially the blown up one. However, the apparent grey tinge to the ear coverts would favour Nightingale, surely?
Jane Turner said:
The white throat doesn't look clearly marked to me at all. The shadow on the bird cuts across the birds throat, making it appear more clearly marked than it is. The chest and underparts aren't dark enough either. More in favour of Nightingale.
Jane Turner said:
There is a slight sandy brown tinge to the breast, which is more in favour of Nightingale, as Whitethroat would be darker.
Jane Turner said:
I see next to no contrast between Tertials/coverts colouration and the back of the bird, which is what you'd expect in Whitethroat. It is a near-uniform warm brown colour, as in Nightingale.
Also, the stance is classic; alert, with a cocked tail
Sorry to contradict you, but that just my opinion.
Agree with Chiff, though. Primary projection is perfect.
Jason
Jane Turner said:
dan pointon
Can't Stop
Blinkin flip! 2 is 99.9% a Whitethroat, in that there's a tiny element of doubt that it could be something rarer, but it's not a Nightingale. 3 is probably a Whitethroat sp, not sure which yet. As for the Spot Fly, having had them in my garden all last summer i'd say posture wise alone this bird looks a pretty likely candidate to me!
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Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
I have to say I favour Whitethroat for two - and if it's not a Whitethroat I'd be pretty sure that it's not a Nightingale.
Again, out of interest, where and when was it taken?
Again, out of interest, where and when was it taken?
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