Starling or Spotless Starling? Canal du Midi, France, May 12 (1 Viewer)

A

alangr

Well-known member

• May 12, 2012

• #1

Is this a spotless starling - and also is the warbler a whitethroat?

 

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Jane Turner

Well-known member

• May 12, 2012

• #2

I can't tell from that photo on the Starling. Your warbler is a Melodious

 

A

alangr

Well-known member

• May 12, 2012

• #3

Is this shot any better? Into sun I'm afraid.

 

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Jane Turner

Well-known member

• May 12, 2012

• #4

I can't see anything to exclude Starling (which is more likely)

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• May 12, 2012

• #5

'Fraid not. As a pair of species they are probably the hardest of the lot to ID in Europe ( particularly from a photo). It's a male though :t:

Chris

 

A

alangr

Well-known member

• May 12, 2012

• #6

Thanks for that. I agree starling more likely - but just didn't look right.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• May 12, 2012

• #7

I am far from an expert, but shouldn't spotless starling have signs of the longer neck and crown feathers when photographed in May?

Niels

 

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• May 12, 2012

• #8

I'm not sure whether, with a photo like this, you can definitively exclude Spotless Starling (although given the location Common Starling is more likely). True that they would normally show longer, more 'ragged' throat feathers, but this feature isn't always apparent,