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Egret sp Cyprus (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter SJC
- Start date
Dimitris
Birdwatcher in Oz
First thought: Intermediate Egret (Great is ruled out by the gular stripe which doesn't extend behind the eye).
Second Thought: Cattle Egret, but jiz not right...
Possible Third Thought: Lecustic individual of third species...
I'll let the experts decide on this one.
Cheers!
Dimitris
Second Thought: Cattle Egret, but jiz not right...
Possible Third Thought: Lecustic individual of third species...
I'll let the experts decide on this one.
Cheers!
Dimitris
SJC
Well-known member
Thanks Demetris,
I think Cattle Egret and Great Egret can be safely ruled out on size and structure alone. I was thinking about the possibility that it's a Western Reef Heron. The culmen is curved, legs are greenish and wingtips show some dark which seem to fit with this species. On the other hand to me the bill looks a bit too chunky for a Reef Heron and the habitat is very unusual.
I think Cattle Egret and Great Egret can be safely ruled out on size and structure alone. I was thinking about the possibility that it's a Western Reef Heron. The culmen is curved, legs are greenish and wingtips show some dark which seem to fit with this species. On the other hand to me the bill looks a bit too chunky for a Reef Heron and the habitat is very unusual.
Dimitris
Birdwatcher in Oz
Hello SJC,
Despite living in Oz I have limited experience with Intermediate Egret, that's why I don't want to comment more extensively on the bird (as far as I remember Intermediates have more yellow/orange bills then this bird (pinkish/yellow). I agree that it looks 'wrong' for the more common species and I have no experience with Western Reef Heron...
Cheers!
Dimitris
Despite living in Oz I have limited experience with Intermediate Egret, that's why I don't want to comment more extensively on the bird (as far as I remember Intermediates have more yellow/orange bills then this bird (pinkish/yellow). I agree that it looks 'wrong' for the more common species and I have no experience with Western Reef Heron...
Cheers!
Dimitris
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Leucistic Grey Heron looks the best bet (shape, structure, proportions etc).
James
James
edenwatcher
Well-known member
I think James has nailed it. Leucistic grey heron.
Rob
Rob
Although apparently only the size of a Little Egret? Not convinced, although I'm not sure what it is either.
edenwatcher
Well-known member
Forgot that aspect. Strange bird, but the dark patches on the wings suggest something leucistic (or LBH 
)
Rob
)Rob
Forgot that aspect. Strange bird, but the dark patches on the wings suggest something leucistic (or LBH
Rob
If LBH means little blue heron, they have long bills.
Niels
The size of the bird was compared directly with nearby Little Egrets by the sounds of it, and there's a big and normally obvious size difference between Little and Great Egrets when they're near to each other. Otherwise, to me it doesn't seem the right sort of shape for a Great Egret, although admittedly that's a hard thing to put into words.
SJC
Well-known member
I agree with the bill looking very short and thick for a Western Reef Egret. Still, it's the closest species I can think of. It is very strange.
I saw it again today, it's slightly shorter than a little egret but is chunkier with a thicker neck. It's not anything like a Grey Heron or Great Egret in size so those two can be excluded. On the other hand the structure does not look like a Little Egret. I have thought of the possibility of a hybrid but what 2birds would have such an offspring and why the black on the wings and the greenish legs?
I saw it again today, it's slightly shorter than a little egret but is chunkier with a thicker neck. It's not anything like a Grey Heron or Great Egret in size so those two can be excluded. On the other hand the structure does not look like a Little Egret. I have thought of the possibility of a hybrid but what 2birds would have such an offspring and why the black on the wings and the greenish legs?
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
I'm pleased to see everyone floundering as much as I was when I saw this earlier.
Could it simply be a Litte Egret with some form of schizochroism? (say a lack of yellow pigment?) The bill shape, gape, nostril, and general structure and jizz don't look bad once one allows for the size illusion created by pale vs. dark bare parts?
Otherwise, haven't a clue. Doesn't fit anything in any of my books.
Graham
Could it simply be a Litte Egret with some form of schizochroism? (say a lack of yellow pigment?) The bill shape, gape, nostril, and general structure and jizz don't look bad once one allows for the size illusion created by pale vs. dark bare parts?
Otherwise, haven't a clue. Doesn't fit anything in any of my books.
Graham
Dimitris
Birdwatcher in Oz
Why is Intermediate out of the question?
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?...=/images?q=intermediate+egret&um=1&hl=en&sa=N
D
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?...=/images?q=intermediate+egret&um=1&hl=en&sa=N
D
