Hi folks, Is it possible to seperate the three sub-species of Dunlin regularly occuring in Britain/Ireland: schinzii, alpina and arctica? And if so does anybody know of a web site that covers this, hopefully with photos? Also of particular interest, is it possible to distinguish hudsonia and pacifica, especially as it seems that hudsonia is significantly different (by dna hybridisation) from all other sub-species? Thanks!
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Id of dunlin subspecies (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter breffni
- Start date
Thanks - great site! Apparently hudsonian can be distinguished from alpina in the field (?) but are there any accepted records i wonder? Attached a pic of a hudsonia in november, apparently still moulting into winter plumage. However my understanding was that hudsonia should complete its moult earlier than alpina?
Attachments
Yes, lots of information there. Although the author seems to be quite creationist...
According to AERC hudsonia has been recorded in the WP:
http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of _the_WP15.pdf
From what i can make out (using google) there is considerable overlap across the board, however...
- the biggest and longest billed is hudsonia
- in breeding plumage hudsonia is the warmest rufous
- in winter hudsonia has the darkest mantle and darkest - - lores and a tight breast band
- hudsonia should moult before alpina (can anybody clarify the moult question?)
To seperate hudsonia and sakhalina might be possible in summer due to the difference in warmth of the rufous mantle, in winter looks tough...
Hi Breffni,
I have had discussions about Dunlin racial ID, and it seems that some alpina (a taxon known to occur in Ireland) can match hudsonia or sakhalina/'centralis' in terms of upperparts colouration, and some may even be similar to those taxa in terms of structure also...
Attached are some pics that I got at Ballycotton a few weeks back of an apparent alpina.
Regards,
Harry
I have had discussions about Dunlin racial ID, and it seems that some alpina (a taxon known to occur in Ireland) can match hudsonia or sakhalina/'centralis' in terms of upperparts colouration, and some may even be similar to those taxa in terms of structure also...
Attached are some pics that I got at Ballycotton a few weeks back of an apparent alpina.
Regards,
Harry
