Little Rock Thrush? (1 Viewer)

R

robmv

Member

• Oct 28, 2014

• #1

Little Rock Thrush? (Ethiopia)

I would be grateful for an opinion on these images which were taken a couple of weeks ago near Lake Langano in Ethiopia. My best guess at the moment is Little Rock Thrush (Monticola rufocinereus), but I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of the forum.

Photo credit: Ben Gilbert

 

Attachments

• 
  Image1.jpg

  181.3 KB · Views: 167
• 
  Image2.jpg

  43 KB · Views: 121

CerambyX

Well-known member

• Oct 28, 2014

• #2

Isn't it just a Common Redstart?

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Oct 28, 2014

• #3

it is

 

R

robmv

Member

• Oct 28, 2014

• #4

Common Redstart was my first thought, but that sharp demarcation between the grey throat and rufous breast doesn't look right. That said, I'm only really familiar with Redstarts during the British summer.

 

bitterntwisted

Graham Howard Shortt

• Oct 29, 2014

• #5

I nearly got tripped up the same way a few years ago by a very similar bird... http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=128726

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Oct 29, 2014

• #6

Little Rock Thrush indeed

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Oct 29, 2014

• #7

Valéry Schollaert said:

Little Rock Thrush indeed

Click to expand...

hm?

 

Gladiator96

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2014

• #8

I'm in the redstart camp

 

bassel

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2014

• #9

Hello

Compare with this bird . I took this picture of this common Redstart in Lebanon . At least no little rock thrushes there.

 

Attachments

• 
  429728_10152608425650291_1281170471_n.jpg

  46.3 KB · Views: 83

I

Iraq Babbler

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2014

• #10

CR for me as well

Omar

 

B

BirdingRob

Brit abroad

• Oct 29, 2014

• #11

I have seen plenty of little rock thrushes and common redstart in highland SW Saudi Arabia. Sometimes in winter they are side by side and surprisingly tricky! However, I'd go for common redstart. I dont think I saw any dark feathers at the bottom of the throat on any LRT like in this bird. Also the grey or grey-blue area tends to go a bit further down the chest.

Mike Jennings once told me he thought someone should do some DNA work on the LRT to see if it isnt really a type of redstart!

Rob

 

I

Iraq Babbler

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2014

• #12

BirdingRob said:

Mike Jennings once told me he thought someone should do some DNA work on the LRT to see if it isnt really a type of redstart!

Rob

Click to expand...

and do bill measuerments as well.

Omar

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Oct 29, 2014

• #13

They are indeed amazingly similar, but I've seen plenty of them noticeably at Lake Langano, an excellent spot for LRT, and it looks like one of them.

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Oct 29, 2014

• #14

Common Redstart

 

Gladiator96

Well-known member

• Oct 29, 2014

• #15

beak -> redstart

 

R

robmv

Member

• Oct 29, 2014

• #16

Thanks for your input everybody, it's been quite an education!

 

sicklebill

well-known Cretaceous relic

• Oct 30, 2014

• #17

Hmm, I'm with Valery on Little Rock Thrush here

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Oct 30, 2014

• #18

sicklebill said:

Hmm, I'm with Valery on Little Rock Thrush here

Click to expand...

:t: feel less alone... thanks B

 

tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Oct 30, 2014

• #19

The 15 pictures on African bird image Database of Little Rock thrush and the 3 ones in Tanzania Birds have all black bills

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• Oct 30, 2014

• #20

there are a lot of features supporting common redstart!

Very dark feathering on throat.
Orange underparts extend all the way up the chest - on LRT much of the chest is slate grey.
Bill colour and dimensions.
Decent eyering.
Pale (whitish) belly - can't find any pics online of LRT that show that.