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Malaysia & Thailand - seeking ID confirmation (1 Viewer)

thyoloalethe said:
James, I appreciate your expertise and for sticking with me thus far.

Just a few more photos to go...

Panti Forest Reserve, 5 November. I have settled on juvenile Scarlet-rumped Trogon, not Cinnamon-rumped. Agree/disagree?
Click to expand...

Yep, lack of contrast on face suggests Scarlet-rumped for me, and that rump already looks like it might be getting a bit of colour.

I see that weblink has a photo of a male of Cinnamon-rumped Trogon that is mine, without permission - tut, tut!

Cinnamon-rumped Trogon is such a rarely seen species compared to the much more frequently seen Scarlet-rumped (I've only see CRT less than <10 times of 12 years of living in Malaysia!), mainly due to it's quiet call and tendency to perch much lower down, I think.

James
 
James Eaton said:
I see that weblink has a photo of a male of Cinnamon-rumped Trogon that is mine, without permission - tut, tut!
Click to expand...

Tut, tut indeed! And their attempt to credit you in the lower left of the page is rather slack:
 

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Next up... a heavily cropped image of a distant Curlew (Krabi, Thailand, 8 November). I had assumed Far Eastern based on the length of the bill. But can Eurasian really be eliminated? The reason I'm questioning it is because the next day I saw a large Curlew in flight with a bill that appeared equally as long, but the underwing coverts appeared to be white (again it was rather distant).

Liam
 

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OK, no takers on the Curlew yet, but I am going to post another set of photos just to progress on this project of mine.

Here's a Sandplover in Krabi, Thailand, 9 November. I saw both Greater and Lesser in Australia over 15 years ago, but they were side by side, so ID was easy. My feeling here is that this is Greater Sandplover, based on proportions and tarsus length. Anyone feel otherwise?
 

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The sandplover looks like Lesser to me - it doesn't seem to have the bulk of greater and the bill does not look heavy enough. Remember that Lesser SP in Thailand will be atrifrons group while those in Australia are mongolus group (a good split IMO).

I'm not sure I'd want to commit on the curlew. The bill does look long, but so can some female orientalis Eurasian and unfortunately this photo is not clear enough to confirm either way on plumage.
 
johnallcock said:
The sandplover looks like Lesser to me - it doesn't seem to have the bulk of greater and the bill does not look heavy enough. Remember that Lesser SP in Thailand will be atrifrons group while those in Australia are mongolus group (a good split IMO).
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OK, I can see what you mean, and believe you are right. I'll have to brush up on these a bit more.

johnallcock said:
I'm not sure I'd want to commit on the curlew. The bill does look long, but so can some female orientalis Eurasian and unfortunately this photo is not clear enough to confirm either way on plumage.
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This info, coupled with my 2nd sighting on the 9th makes me think Eurasian is more likely, although I'll have to accept that the ID isn't 100% certain. At least I've seen both of these elsewhere.
 
OK, last pic. Here's an Ardeola Pond-heron on the mudflats in Krabi, Thailand on 9 November. I also saw some in Bangkok on the 13th. From what I've read, these are basically inseparable in the field in non-breeding plumage. I think that Chinese is more likely in Krabi but Javan is still a distinct possibility. Anything about this bird (e.g. still remaining from breeding plumage) that might ID it to sp.? There are pics on the web, IBC for example, where people seem certain about the ID of a non-breeding bird.
 

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Would say you are correct with the sandplover , leg color and bill length would also be an indication
darker legs and shorter bill on Lesser.

The pond heron would probably be Chinese a bit darker than Javan even in non breeding plumage
 
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robby thai said:
Would say you are correct with the sandplover , leg color and bill length would also be an indication
darker legs and shorter bill on Lesser.
Click to expand...

I'm probably not, and John had suggested Lesser here. Bill looks better for Lesser; leg colour looks greenish-grey to me, and would probably be a bit brighter on Greater. I thought the tarsus was too long, but apparently it's tibia length that matters, not tarsus.

robby thai said:
The pond heron would probably be Chinese a bit darker than Javan even in non breeding plumage
Click to expand...

I think Chinese is commoner in Krabi, although Javan is still quite possible. Interesting, I've never heard of one being darker than the other in NB plumage.
 
robby thai said:
Would say you are correct with the sandplover , leg color and bill length would also be an indication
darker legs and shorter bill on Lesser.
Click to expand...

thyoloalethe said:
I'm probably not, and John had suggested Lesser here. Bill looks better for Lesser; leg colour looks greenish-grey to me, and would probably be a bit brighter on Greater. I thought the tarsus was too long, but apparently it's tibia length that matters, not tarsus.
Click to expand...


I would advise against relying too much on leg colour as a major feature on sandplovers. It's variable between individuals, and also varies according to age and season. Structure (especially the bill) and jizz are the most useful features on non-breeding birds. Be careful about leg length as well, though, because this varies according to weather (the birds sleek down their feathers when hot).
I'm actually fairly confident that this is not a Greater- for me the bill is not long enough, heavy enough or pointed enough, and the head is not large enough.
 
johnallcock said:
I would advise against relying too much on leg colour as a major feature on sandplovers. It's variable between individuals, and also varies according to age and season. Structure (especially the bill) and jizz are the most useful features on non-breeding birds. Be careful about leg length as well, though, because this varies according to weather (the birds sleek down their feathers when hot).
I'm actually fairly confident that this is not a Greater- for me the bill is not long enough, heavy enough or pointed enough, and the head is not large enough.
Click to expand...

Thanks John - I appreciate your expertise on this :t:

Liam
 
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