Common Redtsrt, France (1 Viewer)

dragnil

The glass is half full, but the bottle is empty.

• Sep 20, 2020

• #1

A recent discussio about a Redstart at Flamborough prompts me to ask for help too. Despite many years birding, my experience of Redstarts is very limited and I saw this bird in the Prenees this autumn feeding happily on dogwood berries.
The Collins guide, however, doesn't show a pale wing panel or any white under the black bib. A search on line doesn't produce matches to my bird. Any guidance gratefully received.
David

 

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Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Sep 20, 2020

• #2

Quite a striking bird! All the same, I'd still say nominate P. p. phoenicurus though. Most of the time we are watching Redstarts is spring males, where any pale fringes have worn off; birds in fresh post-moult plumage like this one are not illustrated so much (if at all) in books, and are less often seen (as they're not attracting attention by singing), so we're less familiar with them.

 

dragnil

The glass is half full, but the bottle is empty.

• Sep 20, 2020

• #3

Thanks, Nutty, I'm happy to be reassured that he's not out of the ordinary. The berries were bringing in Blackcaps and hordes of Pied Flycatchers. Of course it went quiet when they'd eaten them all, but a lovely few days.

 

I

igorfest

Well-known member

• Sep 23, 2020

• #4

interesting article

Have a look at this address for more infos on the subject:

http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/small0809redstart/eredstart0809.html

 

dragnil

The glass is half full, but the bottle is empty.

• Sep 23, 2020

• #5

igorfest said:

Have a look at this address for more infos on the subject:

http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/small0809redstart/eredstart0809.html

Click to expand...

Thanks, that's interesting. Some of the detail is beyond me but I'm thinking, on balance, it's still as suggested by Nutcracker. Crikey, it's a very grey area though isn't it?

 

I

igorfest

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2020

• #6

dragnil said:

Thanks, that's interesting. Some of the detail is beyond me but I'm thinking, on balance, it's still as suggested by Nutcracker. Crikey, it's a very grey area though isn't it?

Click to expand...

Of course, dear Dragnil, I'm also on the nominate phoenicurus side, as Nutcracker wrote, even if I think your is a very pale edged individual...

The lack of white bulging at the base of fringes on tertials and secondaries seems to be diagnostic of phoenicurus, just like the strong buffish tinge to the fringes!

Ciao, Igor Festari

 

Brian J Small

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2020

• #7

Dragnil

Your bird is an adult male and as such samamisicus in autumn look very striking - see https://www.birdsofkuwait.com/02-10-2018-at-al-abraq/

Brian S

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Sep 25, 2020

• #8

Brian J Small said:

Your bird is an adult male and as such samamisicus in autumn look very striking - see https://www.birdsofkuwait.com/02-10-2018-at-al-abraq/

Click to expand...

:eek!: :eek!: :eek!:

 

dragnil

The glass is half full, but the bottle is empty.

• Sep 25, 2020

• #9

Brian J Small said:

Dragnil

Your bird is an adult male and as such samamisicus in autumn look very striking - see https://www.birdsofkuwait.com/02-10-2018-at-al-abraq/

Brian S

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, Brian, I'm not sure which "version" you mean. The Kuwaiti bird is a belter and much more striking than mine.

 

Deb Burhinus

Used to be well known! 😎

• Sep 25, 2020

• #10

I think the point is, your bird is an adult male nominate and in fresh autumn plumage so at it’s brightest/stonkingness - however, likewise for the comparative equivalent in samamisicus but that is even more striking as the Kuwait bird shows. Both smart birds though regardless :t:

 

dragnil

The glass is half full, but the bottle is empty.

• Sep 25, 2020

• #11

Thanks, all, your comments are really helpful. I was just happy to see such a beautiful bird, certainly my best yet.