white wagtail - dukhunensis ? (1 Viewer)

Michał Jaro

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #1

I noticed this bird in spring (Poland) - it has almost completely white wing coverts. Eastern genes? dukhunensis ?. If you know anything - please help.

 

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tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Aug 11, 2020

• #2

Bump
there is a lot of white in the greater coverts! No personal experience with Siberian White Wagtail though
Inner tertials look juvenile
any taker?

 

dwatsonbirder

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #3

I cannot add much to the discussion as I've also no field experience with this particular subspecies. Here is an interesting article on an apparent dukhunensis candidate which was subsequently reassessed and considered to be an odd alba.
Also from this article; "‘Eastern’ alba was formerly known as ssp dukhunensis but was subsumed into alba by Per Alström and Krister Mild in their excellent and groundbreaking 'Pipits and Wagtails' book (2003). This treatment has been almost universally accepted and so dukhunensis no longer exists as a subspecies."

 

Last edited: Aug 11, 2020

Michał Jaro

Well-known member

• Aug 12, 2020

• #4

Thank you, especially for interesting articles. Yes, I really shouldn't be using the name dukhunensis. But in this book, however, eastern alba is listed separately. So the distinction of the "eastern" variety is still accepted by specialists (right?). These birds are found much, much further than Poland. Therefore, this could still be an interesting observation for me, so if anyone can confirm (that so much white color on 'alba' covers is impossible), I would be very grateful.

 

G

Grahame Walbridge

Well-known member

• Aug 13, 2020

• #5

Michał Jaro;4044293 said:

Thank you, especially for interesting articles. Yes, I really shouldn't be using the name dukhunensis. But in this book, however, eastern alba is listed separately. So the distinction of the "eastern" variety is still accepted by specialists (right?). These birds are found much, much further than Poland. Therefore, this could still be an interesting observation for me, so if anyone can confirm (that so much white color on 'alba' covers is impossible), I would be very grateful.

Click to expand...

Extent of white in the median and greater coverts indicative of eastern population of nominate, formally k/a dukhunensis, but no longer recognised. Hope that answers your question Michal.

Not safely aged IMO Tom without closer examination.

Grahame



Grahame

 

Michał Jaro

Well-known member

• Aug 13, 2020

• #6

Yes, I meant such a certain confirmation.
It appears that this wahtail is a visitor from quite a distance.
It remains to thank you very much.
Michał