Short-toed Lark for ID - Kolkata, India, Oct 2021 (1 Viewer)

[sbiswas.geo]

This bird was spotted at coastal West Bengal in April this year. Is it possible to guess between Hume's v/s Mongolian (Sykes's) based on this single flight shot?
It is showing emargination on P9 and P8 but other primaries are not clearly visible. P6 seems shorter but not sure if short enough to fit Mongolian.

 

[sbiswas.geo]

Mongolian flight profile for reference, if this helps.

ML364609951 Mongolian Short-toed Lark Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML364609951; © Gombobaatar Sundev; Hentiy, Mongolia

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Hi Sandeep,

Cannot see any plumage features reliably from the image but the pointed wing (shorter p6) would indicate Mongolian IMO. My understanding is that In Hume's P6 should roughly equal P7 (or very slightly shorter) so, the wing point should show 4 tips roughly equal. I am also thinking it looks a tad too short-tailed for Hume's. Mongolian is supposed to have a pre-breeding body in early spring when birds should show a strong rufous-buff wash across breast but it's difficult to confirm in this instance.

Best,

Grahame

 

[sbiswas.geo]

Thanks much Grahame. This helps.