strange bird in Romania (1 Viewer)

E

Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2019

• #1

I saw the attached bird and thought it to be a strange bird.
Please can anyone advise what it might be. Is it an abberant bird or something please?

 

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  starling.jpg

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PYRTLE

Old Berkshire Boy

• Jun 22, 2019

• #2

Looks to be a Wheatear of some sort. Perhaps Black- eared.

 

CARERY

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2019

• #3

Definately a wheatear. Comparatively short wings and rather plain wing coverts let me think Isabelline. But not the best photo to be sure...

 

E

Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2019

• #4

Thanks everyone. I wish it were a Isabelline Wheatear, which would be a lifer, and I appreciate the advice in that regard. However on that photo I don't think I can safely bag it.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Jun 22, 2019

• #5

Scaly upperparts make it a juvenile; I'd say by far most likely Northern Wheatear (common breeder in Romania) rather than Isabelline (rare in Romania, restricted to a few Black Sea coastal sites).

 

E

Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2019

• #6

Dear Nutcracker.
Thank you for that advice. On the ground knowledge about level of abundance or otherwise is very helpful.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Jun 24, 2019

• #7

Nutcracker said:

Scaly upperparts make it a juvenile; I'd say by far most likely Northern Wheatear (common breeder in Romania) rather than Isabelline (rare in Romania, restricted to a few Black Sea coastal sites).

Click to expand...

isabelline is not at all a rare breeder, almost everywhere in dobrudja and some even have crossed the danube to romanian plains.

 

M

Muppit17

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #8

lou salomon said:

isabelline is not at all a rare breeder, almost everywhere in dobrudja and some even have crossed the danube to romanian plains.

Click to expand...

I agree - pretty common really and out numbers Northern in many areas.

Any clue where the photo was taken

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Jun 24, 2019

• #9

Why not Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, with this darkish throat ?

 

E

Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #10

Thank you. At first I thought it was an albino bird of some kind

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Jun 24, 2019

• #11

Let's wait for more precise identification, but I really see a darkish throat that excludes Isabelline.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Jun 24, 2019

• #12

EBEW isn't really breeding in romania. a few males enter the 'colonies' of pied wheatears and produce hybrids but otherwise no confirmed breeding. this one looks like an isabelline ot me but can't exclude a northern.

 

P

Parker

Uncomfortably Numb.

• Jun 24, 2019

• #13

The dark throat looks like shadow playing tricks, if that's the case then Isabeline looks a better fit. Hard to be certain with this pic though.

 

Last edited: Jun 24, 2019

jogresh

Bimble and patch

• Jun 24, 2019

• #14

Yes I'm also not seeing a dark throat; however i'm not seeing NW or IW, I think it's one of the Pied/EBEW species pair. Though I wouldn't stake my life on it!

 

Valéry Schollaert

Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s

• Jun 24, 2019

• #15

lou salomon said:

EBEW isn't really breeding in romania. a few males enter the 'colonies' of pied wheatears and produce hybrids but otherwise no confirmed breeding. this one looks like an isabelline ot me but can't exclude a northern.

Click to expand...

What I see is that

Dark throat, shape, bill, super, wing pattern...

 

E

Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Aug 25, 2019

• #16

Thank you all