• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Sandplover - Cyprus (1 Viewer)

P

pete wragg

Well-known member
This Sandplover,that I have not seen,is causing much debate. There are no records of "lesser" for Cyprus.
Informed comments from knowledgeable observers welcome.

IMG-20240403-WA0016.jpgIMG-20240403-WA0015.jpgIMG-20240403-WA0014.jpg
 
I've not seen it myself, just passing on stuff from whatsapp group. some locals are dismissing it as the short-billed race of Greater that winters here,"columbinus" I think
 
I agree that this looks like a Tibetan Sandplover, for a number of reasons
  • Bill is quite small, smaller than on Greater (even columbinus) and is blunt-tipped
  • Structure seems delicate, with small rounded head. The overall impression is of a small bird (of course, actual size is hard to judge though)
  • Head pattern - rather long, white supercilium extending well behind the eye, forehead rather extensively white and with indistinct rear edge (most obvious on the 2nd photo above and last photo on the twitter link), ear coverts similar in colour to crown (often darker on Greater), lores fairly pale and fading towards the bill (the darkest part of the head is just in front of the eye), hint of a pale collar on hind neck
  • Breast patches widely separated and with rounded tips
  • Overall plumage tone quite pale and sandy
  • Dark legs

Congratulations to the finder!
 
If I may ask a question about differentiating between the two: based on an obviously small sample of photos, it seems to me that the length of the bill in Greater is equal or slightly larger than the distance between the bill base and the back of the eye and the height of the base of the bill is the same or slightly greater than the circumference of the eye while in Tibetan the bill length clearly does not reach the back of the eye and height of the bill base is clearly less than the circumference of the eye. Question: would these be helpful features in differentiating the two species?
This is meant to understand the notion of "bill length".
thank you in advance
steve
 
bhutjoe said:
If I may ask a question about differentiating between the two: based on an obviously small sample of photos, it seems to me that the length of the bill in Greater is equal or slightly larger than the distance between the bill base and the back of the eye and the height of the base of the bill is the same or slightly greater than the circumference of the eye while in Tibetan the bill length clearly does not reach the back of the eye and height of the bill base is clearly less than the circumference of the eye. Question: would these be helpful features in differentiating the two species?
This is meant to understand the notion of "bill length".
thank you in advance
steve
Click to expand...
This is a difference that has been reported before. I've never really tested it to confirm how reliable it is, but it may be useful. It's probably most likely to be of use on photographs, I personally find it difficult to try to estimate a measurement like that in the field.

However, I think it's probably worth bearing in mind that the bill size varies between subspecies in both Tibetan and Greater Sandplover. The easternmost taxon of Tibetan (schaeferi) is larger-billed (longer and deeper) than western birds, and some individuals can approach the bill size of smaller-billed (female?) Greater. The subject bird in this thread looks particularly small-billed to me, because I am most familiar with schaeferi and I guess this is pamirensis.
I am also often struck by how the bill of columbinus (the western taxon of Greater) looks very slim compared to eastern leschenaultii - see the bird linked by Brian in post #5 above.
 
Thank you John. As you may recall I have posted winter plumage plovers on here requesting ID help, which you and others have generously given. I frequently see sand plovers in Thailand during the winter and struggle with identifying them so was looking for "short cuts":) I was thinking of Hairy and Downy woodpeckers in North America in looking at bill length.
Unlike woodpeckers, however, it is difficult to get close enough to sand plovers to see this through ones binocs.
Much appreciated as always for your always helpful comments and information.
steve
 
The experts have already contributed but just to say, had I found this bird, I'd have had no hesitation in calling it a Lesser type.
 

Similar threads

E
Greater Sandplover or "lesser", Sharm, Egypt, 14-12-23
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
johnallcock
J
D
Serin? - Cyprus
Replies
2
Views
341
DoghouseRiley
D
J
Lesser Sandplover or Greater Sandplover? (Sri Lanka)
Replies
3
Views
779
Butty
B
R
Unknown bird call near Baths of Aphrodite, Cyprus, 6 May
Replies
4
Views
501
rubatroid
R
A
Which Spotted eagle species? Location: kanwalit, punjab, pakistan
Replies
4
Views
333
Abdul Maleek
A

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top