Öland, Sweden 12 May 2019 (1 Viewer)

Aladdin · May 30, 2019

Dear members and bird watchers

I took this picture of a bird thinking it was a Northern Wheatear just looking through the camera. And I have taken many pictures during my stay in Sweden and today I had a look at the picture on my computer.

For sure, it is not a Northern Wheatear. Anyone that can be so kind to tell me what kind of bird it is? After having opened in my computer I have identified it as a female common redstart, but I´m very doubtful.

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin

lestat · May 30, 2019

I'd say a female Black Redstart (phoenicurus ochruros)

Aladdin · May 30, 2019

lestat said:
I'd say a female Black Redstart (phoenicurus ochruros)

Thank you very much!

Da#rn! hey look very like. The black is darker on the breast, but then when I check the internet there are several pictures with a light grey breast as well looking like my bird.

Thank you and happy birding
Aladdin

lestat · May 30, 2019

You're welcome, it's a nice bird to spot. Not too many birds out there (Scandinavia) with a reddish tail, so that helps to narrow it down.

If you can afford it, the app Collins birdguide (androind / iOS) is well worth getting to determinate birds from Europe. It has the same info as the book, but with the advantage of including bird songs and calls for the species, and it's nice and portable.

Nutcracker · May 30, 2019

Ditto to female (or first-summer male) Black Redstart; too grey for Common.

lestat · May 30, 2019

@nutcracker I'd rule out the first summer male seeing it's so early in the season (may 12th), but yeah that's the best alternative.

Mark Lew1s · May 30, 2019

Looks like common redstart to me. Overall pale appearance, buffy underparts, very pale belly and undertail fit better for this species.

Aladdin · May 30, 2019

Fat Paul Scholes said:
Looks like common redstart to me. Overall pale appearance, buffy underparts, very pale belly and undertail fit better for this species.

Hello Fat Paul Scholes

Same as I thought, but then I saw a lot of pictures on Internet with the same light grey on the chest and they look the same too me.

I saw several common redstarts on Öland, but only male

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin

Aladdin · May 30, 2019

lestat said:
You're welcome, it's a nice bird to spot. Not too many birds out there (Scandinavia) with a reddish tail, so that helps to narrow it down.

If you can afford it, the app Collins birdguide (androind / iOS) is well worth getting to determinate birds from Europe. It has the same info as the book, but with the advantage of including bird songs and calls for the species, and it's nice and portable.

Thank you Iestat

I have Collins (The Svensson) but it was so confusing as I was pretty sure with the dark grey black redstart, but then I saw alot of pictures of a Black redstart with the same light grey chest and underparts

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin

tconzemi · May 30, 2019

Fat Paul Scholes said:
Looks like common redstart to me. Overall pale appearance, buffy underparts, very pale belly and undertail fit better for this species.

and to me

lestat · May 30, 2019

Yeah going over for another look I can see it being a better fit for common redstart. I stand corrected.

Simon Wates · May 30, 2019

Fat Paul Scholes said:
Looks like common redstart to me. Overall pale appearance, buffy underparts, very pale belly and undertail fit better for this species.

Agreed

Nutcracker · May 30, 2019

Fat Paul Scholes said:
Looks like common redstart to me. Overall pale appearance, buffy underparts, very pale belly and undertail fit better for this species.

I'm seeing distinctly greyish underparts, not buffy!

Edit: anyone good enough at pic analysis to see emargination details?

StuartReeves · May 30, 2019

Fat Paul Scholes said:
Looks like common redstart to me. Overall pale appearance, buffy underparts, very pale belly and undertail fit better for this species.

Agreed.

Rotherbirder · May 30, 2019

Common Redstart. Incidentally lestat, why can it not be a first summer? A bird in its first summer would have hatched last year, not this?!

RB

lestat · May 31, 2019

@Rotherbirder well if that's the case then I'm misinformed.
I was lead to believe that after January first it would be a second year. I'll be the first to admit that it may be wrong, but it kind of makes sense, most are born in spring early summer, making that the first summer. Once their fluffy down disappears from sight for 'normal' plumage.

PYRTLE · May 31, 2019

For me as a general rule for a passerine, I would say the bird is in it's 2nd calendar year but it's 1st summer plumage. This is based on it being a nestling, then fledgling, juvenile, 1st winter then becoming a 1st summer / adult.But there are other approaches to aging. Redstart for me.

tconzemi · May 31, 2019

lestat said:
@Rotherbirder well if that's the case then I'm misinformed.
I was lead to believe that after January first it would be a second year. I'll be the first to admit that it may be wrong, but it kind of makes sense, most are born in spring early summer, making that the first summer. Once their fluffy down disappears from sight for 'normal' plumage.

yes confusing, 2nd calendar year is first summer, even more confusing to me is american ageing, but you simply have to get used to it I guess

GWB77 · May 31, 2019

lestat said:
@Rotherbirder well if that's the case then I'm misinformed.
I was lead to believe that after January first it would be a second year. I'll be the first to admit that it may be wrong, but it kind of makes sense, most are born in spring early summer, making that the first summer. Once their fluffy down disappears from sight for 'normal' plumage.

1st-calender year (i.e. year of hatching) = juvenile or 1st-winter.
2nd-calendar year = 1st-summer or 2nd-winter
3rd-calendar year = 2nd-summer or 3rd-winter etc.

FWIW, looks like a Common Redstart to me too.

Rotherbirder · May 31, 2019

GWB77 said:
1st-calender year (i.e. year of hatching) = juvenile or 1st-winter.
2nd-calendar year = 1st-summer or 2nd-winter
3rd-calendar year = 2nd-summer or 3rd-winter etc.

FWIW, looks like a Common Redstart to me too.

Correct - just what I said!

RB

Öland, Sweden 12 May 2019 (1 Viewer)

Well-known member

Attachments

Penguin fan

Well-known member

Penguin fan

Stop Brexit!

Penguin fan

My real name is Mark Lewis

Well-known member

Well-known member

Tom

Penguin fan

Well-known member

Stop Brexit!

Local rarity

Well-known member

Penguin fan

Old Berkshire Boy

Tom

Grafham Water Birder

Well-known member

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread