Kerala Warbler (1 Viewer)

[Jayan Thomas]

Hello , Please help me identify this warbler from Kerala , India . This warbler was spotted last week along the beach bushes. It looks bigger than a Blyth's Reed Warbler. Is it a Common Reed Warbler ?
Thank You,
Jayan Thomas

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Hello , Please help me identify this warbler from Kerala , India . This warbler was spotted last week along the beach bushes. It looks bigger than a Blyth's Reed Warbler. Is it a Common Reed Warbler ?
Thank You,
Jayan Thomas

Firstly, this is best dealt with in the Bird Identification Q&A so may I suggest its moved.

No Jayan, its a Blyth's Reed, the combination of 2 clearly emarginated primaries (only 1 in Reed), very short (c50%) primary projection, dark distal smudge to lower mandible, grey legs + slight continuation of supercilium beyond eye etc confirm.

Judging size of lone birds is subjective at best, but in this instance, there is no difference in size limits between Common and Blyth's Reed.

Grahame

 

[delia todd]

Hi Jayan and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. I am going to move your post to the ID forum, as suggested by Grahame, as there will be more people there with the knowledge to help you.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[Gduff]

Firstly, this is best dealt with in the Bird Identification Q&A so may I suggest its moved.

No Jayan, its a Blyth's Reed, the combination of 2 clearly emarginated primaries (only 1 in Reed), very short (c50%) primary projection, dark distal smudge to lower mandible, grey legs + slight continuation of supercilium beyond eye etc confirm.

Judging size of lone birds is subjective at best, but in this instance, there is no difference in size limits between Common and Blyth's Reed.

Grahame

I've always had trouble seeing emargination on perched birds... Is it possible to explain on these pictures where exactly you see primaries and their emarginations?
Thank you

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

I've always had trouble seeing emargination on perched birds... Is it possible to explain on these pictures where exactly you see primaries and their emarginations?
Thank you

I don't have the ability to annotate the original image so I'll try to explain.

The emargination is where the outer web of the primary feather cuts in sharply (=narrows) towards the shaft. The outer web of the feather usually manifests as a paler line so, the point at which it stops marks the start of an emargination. Now look at the 1st image and you will see the paler lines that mark the edge of the outer webs of the primaries, the three outermost stop abruptly marking the emaginations to (counting inwards) P3, P4 & P5 respectively. Note that 3 are visible, not 2 as previously stated, fairly typical in adult BRW's.

Grahame

 

[delia todd]

For anyone struggling with the terminology, most of your questions will be answered in our Opus Resources section:

Topography - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

Dictionary D-F - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net