Yangtze River small birds ID help (1 Viewer)

C

chandaiman69

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2019

• #1

Just back from China tour 10 days ago. At Shibaozhai, just downstream of Chungqing City, found a small flock of small birds in and out of trees. They have red tails. Wonder if they are some sort of redstarts. Out of these was one with blue wings & tail. Could this be a blue winged minla, though range seems too far north. Thanks in advance for any inputs and enlightments.

 

Attachments

• 
  501_9141crop.jpg

  53.5 KB · Views: 48
• 
  501_9150crop.jpg

  47.5 KB · Views: 31
• 
  501_9161crop.jpg

  58.4 KB · Views: 13
• 
  501_9184crop.jpg

  46.4 KB · Views: 16
• 
  501_9187crop.jpg

  47 KB · Views: 23

J

johnallcock

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2019

• #2

The first (blue wings and tail) is a Blue-winged Minla. It looks like Chongqing is just at the northern edge of the range.

The others are Daurian Redstarts, quite a common migrant in China that seems to be present in good numbers this winter (at least in Hong Kong).

 

C

chandaiman69

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2019

• #3

Thanks very much, johnallcock.
One more shot from the same site.
Looks like an ordinary white wagtail, but this one has black face mask.
Subspecies ocularis has black eye line, subspecies leucopsis has only white face.
Is this another subspecies or just an aberration ?

 

Attachments

• 
  501_9125crop.jpg

  41.9 KB · Views: 25

C

chandaiman69

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2019

• #4

Another one from the same flock.
Not a Daurian. This one has a orange head cap.

 

Attachments

• 
  501_9136crop.jpg

  49.5 KB · Views: 55

J

johnallcock

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2019

• #5

chandaiman69 said:

Thanks very much, johnallcock.
One more shot from the same site.
Looks like an ordinary white wagtail, but this one has black face mask.
Subspecies ocularis has black eye line, subspecies leucopsis has only white face.
Is this another subspecies or just an aberration ?

Click to expand...

This one is subspecies alboides, which is the regular subspecies in SW China and the Himalayas. A black back and extensive black on the head (the chin/throat would also be black in summer)

chandaiman69 said:

Another one from the same flock.
Not a Daurian. This one has a orange head cap.

Click to expand...

A Rufous-capped Babbler. Well done for getting a photo, they can be difficult to get a good view of.

 

C

chandaiman69

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2019

• #6

Many many thanks.