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Ethiopia, Bahir dar Wheatear (1 Viewer)

samsam

Well-known member
seen on 1.3.13 100km south of Bahir dar on the road tto Adiss.
the back all grey,no broad black mask, so Northen W. is off.Blackstart id off as this bird has a supercillium.
Got no other angle, only this back shot.is the Red-tailed an option?
please..
thanx in advance
 

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As Val said, it's either a Northern or an Isabelline, not a Red-tailed for sure.

Now, telling Northern from Izzy with such a pic isn't easy. My first impression was Izzy: stance, long legs, rather pale plumage. Note also the tip of the wing is seemingly at the same distance from the tail tip and from the tertials tip (closer to the tail tip in Northern because of the longer primary projection).
Yet, the supercilium seems to buldge behind the eye, which is usually better for Northern.
On balance, I would opt for isabelline. But without further photos, it's difficult to be 100% positive.
 
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