Malaysian/Kentish Plover? Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (2 Viewers)

[dixonlau]

Location: Local beach, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
Date: 25-Feb-2022

Sighted a small group (all together in flocks/close proximity) of shorebirds at local beach. Are they all Malaysian/Kentish Plover? except Pic 5 which my guessing could be Lesser Sand-Plover (TIbetan). Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong in my findings of any possible ID. Thank you for all the help.


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Pic 1


Pic 2


Both photos in Pic 1 & 2 are same two birds. Pic 1 just to show when it stretch its leg. Based on close proximity of this two birds, are they same species? Possible male (bird-2 sit on ground) & another female (bird-1 standing)? I also take into consideration of Phillipps Field Guide where Malaysian Plover rarely associates with flocks of migrant waders. Therefore, unsure if they could be Malaysian Plover.


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Pic 3

Bird-1 plumage looks much clearer compare to Bird-2 in PIc 1. Both same Kentish/Malaysian Plovers? bird-1 is male and bird-2 is female?


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Pic 4

Not sure of this one because the plumage looks lighter.


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Pic 5

The white neck doesn't goes all around the neck. The bill doesn't look very long. Could it be Lesser Sand-Plover (Tibetan)?


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Pic 6

The plumage of bird-2 looks very unusual compare to all others. It looks same on Pic 7 (bird-3) and Pic 8 (bird-1).


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Pic 7

They all could be same species, Kentish/Malaysian Plover? Bird-3 could be female? Its bill can be seen longer and much bigger at near the end. It has a darker eye mask.


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Pic 8

Bird-2, Bird-3, Bird-4 looks like same species.

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Pic 9

All looks very similar except bird-5 with obvious bigger in size.

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Pic 10

bird-3 and bird-4 white not goes all around the neck. Bird-6 can't see the white goes around its neck but this could be due to when it is in sitting position.


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Pic 11 & Pic 12 for reference only showing they are together in group or in close proximity. Not for ID but if you could spot any species that not ID above, please do mention it. Much appreciated.

Thanks again for any help.

 

[dixonlau]

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Pic 5
View attachment 1431803
The white neck doesn't goes all around the neck. The bill doesn't look very long. Could it be Lesser Sand-Plover (Tibetan)?


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Pic 6
View attachment 1431805
The plumage of bird-2 looks very unusual compare to all others. It looks same on Pic 7 (bird-3) and Pic 8 (bird-1).

Could all above be Greater Sand Plover instead?

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Pic 7
View attachment 1431806
They all could be same species, Kentish/Malaysian Plover? Bird-3 could be female? Its bill can be seen longer and much bigger at near the end. It has a darker eye mask.

bird-3 could be Greater?

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Pic 8
View attachment 1431807
Bird-2, Bird-3, Bird-4 looks like same species.

All Greater? with bird-1 in breeding plumage?

 

[sicklebill]

I agree, they look like various plumages of Greater Sand Plover

 

[dixonlau]

I agree, they look like various plumages of Greater Sand Plover

Thank you for the help. That confirmed my latest findings.


Also narrowed down others either Kentish/Malaysian Plover or maybe both in the group too.


Latest finding;

#1 Highly Kentish, visible black collar that doesn't goes all around to the back. #2 Still unsure.

#2 Highly Kentish. #1 after recovered shadow from RAW File, there are not black collar visible. It looks similar to #4. #3 Greater Sand Plover

Could be Kentish also but barely visible black collar.

Plumage looks very light. I'm still unsure for this.

 

[johnallcock]

My take on these birds is:

#1/2. 1: Greater Sand
2. Kentish

#3. 1: Kentish,
2: Greater Sand

#4. 1: Kentish? (difficult angle)
2: This actually looks to me quite like White-faced. Could be Malaysian, but it doesn't seem very contrasting above.

#5. 1,2: Greater Sand

#6. 1,2: Greater Sand. Bird 2 is moulting into breeding plumage, which is why it looks different.

#7. 1,2,4: Kentish
3: Greater Sand

#8. 1,2,3,4: All Greater Sand

#9. 2,3,6,7: Kentish
5: Greater Sand.
1,4: I think are Kentish, but find them tricky because of the angle

#10. 1,2,5,7: Kentish
3,4,6: Greater Sand
8: Looks like a Sand Plover. I guess probably another Greater, but not entirely sure.

 

[dixonlau]

My take on these birds is:

#1/2. 1: Greater Sand
2. Kentish

Agreed

#3. 1: Kentish,
2: Greater Sand

Ageed

#4. 1: Kentish? (difficult angle)
2: This actually looks to me quite like White-faced. Could be Malaysian, but it doesn't seem very contrasting above.

Bird-1 Difficult to judge due to bad angle. Agreed. I didn't realize there are so many similar looking species in the group.
Bird-2 Yes, confirmed is White-faced. I double checked my stock photos, there are few more shots of similar looking bird.

#5. 1,2: Greater Sand

Agreed.

#6. 1,2: Greater Sand. Bird 2 is moulting into breeding plumage, which is why it looks different.

Agreed. Thank you. By checking against another shot with more clear breeding plumage, this Bird-2 indeed is moulting into breeding plumage.

#7. 1,2,4: Kentish
3: Greater Sand

Agreed.

#8. 1,2,3,4: All Greater Sand

Agreed.

#9. 2,3,6,7: Kentish
5: Greater Sand.
1,4: I think are Kentish, but find them tricky because of the angle

Bird-1 Could it be White-faced?
Bird-4 agreed difficult to judge by its angle.

#10. 1,2,5,7: Kentish
3,4,6: Greater Sand
8: Looks like a Sand Plover. I guess probably another Greater, but not entirely sure.

Agreed bird-8 likely Greater. I should have exclude bird-8 as it is not very clear.


Thank you so much John for taking your time to help the ID.

 

[dixonlau]

Hi @johnallcock , I have looked back all my stock photos of the mentioned possible White-faced. Only one bird of such. I put all together of same bird in various angle shots. If not too trouble to ask, could you help have a look again to confirm if it is White-faced at all. Thanks.


Possible White-faced Plover?

 

[andyb39]

Hi @johnallcock , I have looked back all my stock photos of the mentioned possible White-faced. Only one bird of such. I put all together of same bird in various angle shots. If not too trouble to ask, could you help have a look again to confirm if it is White-faced at all. Thanks.


Possible White-faced Plover?
View attachment 1432196

I know the upperparts don't look that mottled but aren't the plumage tones - the gingery breast band, ear-coverts and nape - better for female (?) Malaysian?