Chaffinch (ss maderensis) at the Azures (1 Viewer)

S

samsam

Well-known member

• Dec 4, 2016

• #1

taken at the Portuguese Island Faial in the Azores on 27.9.16
can it be the above ss of common chaffinch in transit from Summer to winter?
thanx for your help

 

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  Maybe Common Chaffinch ss Madeira.JPG

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bitterntwisted

Graham Howard Shortt

• Dec 4, 2016

• #2

I think it's in transit from this world to the next

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Dec 4, 2016

• #3

Seems to have a very large bill, is it a feature of this race?

A

 

P

P.Sunesen

Well-known member

• Dec 4, 2016

• #4

andyadcock said:

Seems to have a very large bill, is it a feature of this race?

A

Click to expand...

Correct.

All the Atlantic (and North African) subspecies have a heavier bill than the nominate form, but the bird depicted here is moulting the head feathers, which makes the bill seem even larger than had the bird completed the moult.

According to Bannerman (1963) the relevant subspecies of the Azores is F.c. moreleti.

Peter

 

Last edited: Dec 4, 2016

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Dec 4, 2016

• #5

Thanks Peter


A

 

D

davercox

Dave Cox

Supporter

• Dec 5, 2016

• #6

P.Sunesen said:

According to Bannerman (1963) the relevant subspecies of the Azores is F.c. moreleti.

Click to expand...

and IOC 6.4 agrees with him: moreletti in the Azores, maderensis on Madeira.

 

P

P.Sunesen

Well-known member

• Dec 5, 2016

• #7

davercox said:

and IOC 6.4 agrees with him: moreletti in the Azores, maderensis on Madeira.

Click to expand...

Thanks Dave,

Except for the spelling Good Old Bannerman (Birds of the Atlantic Isles) seems relevant still. I didn't have time to look it up in HBW?

Peter