Pratincole in Tajikistan today...possible first national record? (1 Viewer)

[PhilSteiner]

I photographed (or tried to photograph) this pratincole in Dushanbe, Tajikistan today...our expected pratincole is Collared Pratincole, with Black-winged also on the OSME and AviBase lists but not the BirdLife list or the eBird list. This bird, however, seems to be a Small Pratincole. While the photo quality is terrible, the wing pattern seems distinctive enough to rule out both Collared and Black-winged. Unfortunately although I waited around hoping to get some better photos, after its first couple of circuits of the sewage pond, I didn't see it again. As it would be a first national record, I wanted to run it by here before calling it for sure.

 

[lou salomon]

Looks perfect for a Small Pratincole! Wing pattern is so distinctive that I see little room for doubt.

 

[PhilSteiner]

Thanks for the confirmation!

 

[lockbreeze926]

Many congrats on your find!

 

[MJB]

For your information, Phil, your sighting is 400 km north of the IUCN mapped summer breeding distribution at the western end of the Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan. Congratulations!
MJB