undetermined LesserWhitethroat. 10-12-07 (1 Viewer)

gerdwichers8

Well-known member

• Jan 22, 2008

• #1

The following bird has been watched in the Netherlands by some alert birders.
One of them asked me to post some of the photo's.
Not yet fully determined, they have their preferences about its identity.

 

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  Vale Braamsluiper-1 langenboom 10-12-2007[1].JPG

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Motmot

Eduardo Amengual

• Jan 22, 2008

• #2

Looks to have a short primary projection, distinctly pale tertials, tiny bill, buffy underparts, buff-grey crown, not distinctive dark facial mask, pale brown tail. All good for Desert minula Lesser Whitethroat.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 23, 2008

• #3

Without getting into the id, which beyond my knowledge, minula is also known as Small Whitethroat http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Small_Whitethroat.

Cheers
Niels

 

Motmot

Eduardo Amengual

• Jan 23, 2008

• #4

Hey Gerd, any extra info on this bird?

 

G

ggregory71

Well-known member

• Jan 23, 2008

• #5

From my experience of Lesser Whitethroat types in Kuwait, I can say that many are difficult to (sub)specify, and it may be best to add the qualifier 'showing the features of'. However, this one appears to be a good candidate for minula/margelanica, whatever status these forms have. Apparently some authorities split more than others - I do not know what the relevant Netherlands authority decides about all the Lesser Whitethroat types.

 

gerdwichers8

Well-known member

• Jan 23, 2008

• #6

No, these pics where shown to me and I was left 'undetermined' myself. Stepped out on any positive ID tentativily.
Had some text reread in Helbig, Shirihai and Christie on a bird which shows cold grey brown upperparts rather than the light brown grey. This bird is left 'undetermined' with the note that it shows features that strongly suggest minula.
I dd say that these birders got a stronger case than that now they can show the following pictures, I received yesterday.

 

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  VB_1833copy[1].JPG

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Motmot

Eduardo Amengual

• Jan 23, 2008

• #7

New set of images reinforces my first impression.

 

gerdwichers8

Well-known member

• Jan 23, 2008

• #8

Well, they terminated my first impression! (halimodendri/curruca sp.on the sole first pic) since they abolutely show colouration on the pale brown grey side.

Moreover, they shed some new understanding in the colouration of the two ambiguous birds at plate 17.

Catalysing pix!