Mystery Bird from Malta (1 Viewer)

[Zoologist from the Med.]

Dear all birders and ornithologists on birdforum.net

I have this photograph of a strange bird species taken in Malta recently at Wied Fulija this month. I'm Maltese myself by birth and nationality and a local zoologist, so I'm pretty much familiar with most avian species which lives in and/or comes to Malta. However, this bird has me wondering if it's either our local Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius) or something else entirely. I've enhanced the photograph a few times on lighting and colour aspects and apparently there's a pronounced black mask on the bird's face (too much for a blue rock-thrush), and a white throat bib??. I have sent both the enhanced photo and the original for maximum ID. Can anyone tell me what is this thing by certainty?? Thank you.

 

[Butty]

Can't see anything to stop it being adult male blue rock thrush. Proportions, dark upperbody, and dark lore are fine. Much of it's in shade so impossible to judge colours. There's no white throat apparent.

 

[KenM]

Male Red-Backed Shrike might be a candidate?

Cheers

 

[THE_FERN]

Male Red-Backed Shrike might be a candidate?

Cheers

Blue rock thrush for me. Not sure how to morph this into a shrike

 

[KenM]

Blue rock thrush for me. Not sure how to morph this into a shrike

To my eye, given the quality of the shot and not forgetting (the date), a resemblance might be compared…ie the mask and blue grey head and what does seem to be a paler throat?

 

[pianoman]

I'm certainly seeing a lighter throat and some kind of mask, don't know if the throat would be white if in full sun. My first impression was of some kind of Wheatear!

 

[MacBirdie]

I lightened the photo up and it does look a bit like a wheatear? Just guessing.

 

[mummymonkey]

I don't see anything on even the brightened up image that excludes blue rock thrush.
Darker wings, all dark tail, dark eyes and overall body shape are all good.
It's in the right place at the right time.

Compare with this image which shows an apparent paler throat and dark mask.

Blue Rock Thrush Photos, Blue Rock Thrush Images, Nature Wildlife Pictures | NaturePhoto

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) Images Pictures, Nature Wildlife Photos - Nature Images - NaturePhoto

www.naturephoto-cz.com

 

[THE_FERN]

I lightened the photo up and it does look a bit like a wheatear? Just guessing.

Can't make this into a wheatear either personally

 

[Zoologist from the Med.]

To my eye, given the quality of the shot and not forgetting (the date), a resemblance might be compared…ie the mask and blue grey head and what does seem to be a paler throat?

Ok. But from my computer there seems to be a paler throat. Possibly from the lighting. But either way, I do think that it's most probably a blue-rock thrush or a wheatear species. But most likely, a blue rock thrush. Thanks again.

 

[Zoologist from the Med.]

Can't make this into a wheatear either personally

It could perhaps be a northern or black-eared wheatear. But its still a bit early for both species to show up right now in Malta. Still possible though, especially with all this warmer winter weather. Nevertheless, I do think that its most probably a blue rock thrush under some strange lighting effects in the original.

 

[FaroeRagnar]

Alpine Accentor judging the lightened up photo

 

[Bewick]

Alpine Accentor judging the lightened up photo

It’s a pretty rare bird there and honestly doesn’t give me accentor vibes. I think this is most likely a blue rock thrush.

 

[Zoologist from the Med.]

It’s a pretty rare bird there and honestly doesn’t give me accentor vibes. I think this is most likely a blue rock thrush.

No it doesn't look like an accentor from it's overall jizz. However, almost every year we get an Alpine accentor on Malta or Gozo; usually on the highest points of the islands.

 

[chowchilla]

Based on jizz and general colouration, I'm only seeing Blue Rock Thrush. Does Malta get Wheatears in winter?

 

[Zoologist from the Med.]

Based on jizz and general colouration, I'm only seeing Blue Rock Thrush. Does Malta get Wheatears in winter?

Soon. Malta gets a variety of wheatear species; with 9 species having been recorded, but only 4 species visit Malta regularly and again all between Mid-March till early June. However, the Isabelline wheatear and the desert wheatear are the only two which have been known to visit Malta right about now (at the earliest) and are in fact one of Malta's earliest spring migrants.