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Stonechat (UK) (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Roy C
- Start date
KenM
Well-known member
I’d have thought a sub adult male by the looks of it. 👍
Could you give the date and closer location, please? Thanks.
.. should sort it out 👍🏻
Not really sure what that would mean: a 2-year-old male would presumably be as adult - so it must mean a 1-year-old. Personally, I'd've guessed a worn (ie not yet started post-breeding moult, if the photo's recent) adult female - but this..
.. should sort it out 👍🏻
KenM
Well-known member
It means what it says, a male bird not in “full” adult plumage.
Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
Hello Matt,
the file should download directly on your computer (if this action isnt blocked by some software, which is regular advisable).
Anyway, you can also download it from the original site at Species Files – Guia Blasco Zumeta de Aves which contains a wealth of excellent ID sites about other species a reference addition to any field guide
Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
Hello Roy,
do you have more pictures? At least I need for confident ageing pictures of the wing(-coverts) and experienced BF members you know.
More pictures could also help to be sure about the extent of any blackish feathers in the throat area.
I think the appearant blackish lower throat is at least partly the result of ruffled feathers, reaveling darkish skin and shadows enhanced by sharpening and very good picture quality.
Please note, that females can have dark in the throat too. Yes, its a worn summer female, but please compare (Prenzlau, NE-Germany, 16.06.2016)
all: Schwarzkehlchen 16.6.16
And I wouldnt place much confidence in appearant dark and rusty underparts and dark, cold wooden brown hues on the upperparts. I have seen similar females, not pale, and buffish/creamy females in appearant breeding pairs before.
(assuming, the picture was taken recently: quite a few early autumn/winter male Stonechats have a more male like head than this bird. But as said, this shouldnt be understood as a confident comment about this bird here)
do you have more pictures? At least I need for confident ageing pictures of the wing(-coverts) and experienced BF members you know.
More pictures could also help to be sure about the extent of any blackish feathers in the throat area.
I think the appearant blackish lower throat is at least partly the result of ruffled feathers, reaveling darkish skin and shadows enhanced by sharpening and very good picture quality.
Please note, that females can have dark in the throat too. Yes, its a worn summer female, but please compare (Prenzlau, NE-Germany, 16.06.2016)
all: Schwarzkehlchen 16.6.16
And I wouldnt place much confidence in appearant dark and rusty underparts and dark, cold wooden brown hues on the upperparts. I have seen similar females, not pale, and buffish/creamy females in appearant breeding pairs before.
(assuming, the picture was taken recently: quite a few early autumn/winter male Stonechats have a more male like head than this bird. But as said, this shouldnt be understood as a confident comment about this bird here)
It doesn't say that, and, in normal usage, subadult doesn't mean that either - otherwise it would include juvenile, which it doesn't.
Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
Edit: once more: wer lesen kann ist klar im Vorteil: reading the comments again, I reailzed, that Butty had already said it could well be a female. Sorry and thanks Butty.
And please dont let this thread drift away from this interesting bird and the question about confident ageing and sexing.
And please dont let this thread drift away from this interesting bird and the question about confident ageing and sexing.
KenM
Well-known member
Interestingly! Eastern 1st.w.female birds can show a “hint of an eyebrow” which clearly this does.(or does the “head on” shot exaggerate this feature?)
Presume Spring females will show a darker head thus this bird is more likely to be a female in my now “reconsidered” opinion.😮
FWIW, here’s a shot taken locally a few days ago, again with more than a “hint” of an eyebrow.
Although sporting an S.rubicola rump with orange “wash to the flanks”, does make me wonder if the current “guide” illustrations are a little lacking to the extent of their plumage overlap, regarding supercillium, rumps also the existence of a warm wash to the flanks.😮
Presume Spring females will show a darker head thus this bird is more likely to be a female in my now “reconsidered” opinion.😮
FWIW, here’s a shot taken locally a few days ago, again with more than a “hint” of an eyebrow.
Although sporting an S.rubicola rump with orange “wash to the flanks”, does make me wonder if the current “guide” illustrations are a little lacking to the extent of their plumage overlap, regarding supercillium, rumps also the existence of a warm wash to the flanks.😮
