French Guiana - Plain-bellied or White-chested Emerald (1 Viewer)

Hi all,

I was looking at this photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/michel_giraud-audine/49731168172

and wondered if this could be a White-chested Emerald. The copper rump seems to indicate that. I believe I asked the photographer about a previous photo and he pointed out the forked tail as evidence of Plain-bellied.

thanks!

Tom Friedel

Restall (birds of N SA) describes Plain-bellied as having "bronzy to coppery reflections on uppertail coverts and tail".
On the other hand, I am not sure that this photo shows a forked tail. It seems to show a tail that shows an inverted V in profile, inverted compared to the tail of a grackle. The drawings in Restall shows White-chested having such a tail but not Plain-bellied.

Compare photos here: https://ebird.org/species/plbeme1 https://ebird.org/species/whceme1/

Niels

Is the definition of a forked tail one where the central feathers are shorter than the outer tail feathers?

Ihe Plain-bellied is supposed to have a part-red bill, while the White-chested has an all black bill. Some photos of the Plain-bellied (HBW) show an all green back and tail. Maybe it is that simple. Black bill, copper back = White-chested and Red bill, green back = Plain-bellied

Only this photo by the same photographer makes me wonder, although maybe one can't see the back well enough to be sure if it is green or copper.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/michel_giraud-audine/8684753908/

TomFriedel said:

Is the definition of a forked tail one where the central feathers are shorter than the outer tail feathers?

Click to expand...

I believe this is correct. Apart from that I am not sure I can help more than I have already.

Niels