-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Marsh Warbler? Shetland (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter jtwood
- Start date
KenM
Well-known member
Fantastic shots BTW Jim....Certainly looks like the real McCoy!..Very long pp (8 primary tips visible), grey/straw leg colour, yellowish soles, greyish nape, contrasting against grey brown upperparts..bill perhaps looking a tad longer than preferred..but..compare against (my not such a good shot) Reed Warbler that I took in early May....Cheers
Attachments
dwatsonbirder
Well-known member
I agree, looks very good for Marsh Warbler. I think that the prominant but broken eyering is another good feature. Fantastic shots!
phil baber
Clipped Wing
Much of the features tally with Marsh. I don't find it long-billed. But all the other characters are convincing me it's a MW.
One of the chararacters mentioned in Keith Vinicombe's MacMillan Guide was the alula being darker than the wing coverts. Don't know if this still stands as an ID feature? But it's certainly obvious in these smashing photos!
In Poland it is a very common bird around where I used to stay over many Summers. I was always struck by the whiteness of the throat standing out.
This bird's throat is very white compared to the rest of it. I like that on a Marsh.
And the lack of rufous tones, making it stand out against the "colder" overall ground compared to RW. They always reminded me of a more sophisticated Whitethroat, with subtle " racing elan".
Maybe something about the gilt edgings to the retrices lean toward MW also?
And the rounder-crowned appearence, with less emphasis on a severe forehead slope from the upper mandible, which would make the bill look dagger-like.
These ramblings, coupled with the above comments, are additions to the MW camp.
Give this bird a chance to sing and no doubt it's a Marsh.
Brilliant photos Jim!:t:
One of the chararacters mentioned in Keith Vinicombe's MacMillan Guide was the alula being darker than the wing coverts. Don't know if this still stands as an ID feature? But it's certainly obvious in these smashing photos!
In Poland it is a very common bird around where I used to stay over many Summers. I was always struck by the whiteness of the throat standing out.
This bird's throat is very white compared to the rest of it. I like that on a Marsh.
And the lack of rufous tones, making it stand out against the "colder" overall ground compared to RW. They always reminded me of a more sophisticated Whitethroat, with subtle " racing elan".
Maybe something about the gilt edgings to the retrices lean toward MW also?
And the rounder-crowned appearence, with less emphasis on a severe forehead slope from the upper mandible, which would make the bill look dagger-like.
These ramblings, coupled with the above comments, are additions to the MW camp.
Give this bird a chance to sing and no doubt it's a Marsh.
Brilliant photos Jim!:t:
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Brian J Small
Well-known member
For head pattern and bill length see Martian Garner - http://birdingfrontiers.com/2012/05/31/marsh-and-reed-warbler/
Brian S
Brian S
Hi Jane!
Is this really diagnostic? Looking in Svensson it seems to be the other way around for me and looking at pictures I find it hard to see a very clear difference. Note that I'm not a ringer so this is a humble question.
Also, I wonder a little about the placement of your arrow on the Reed W. :smoke:
Jane Turner
Well-known member
When I said notch...of course I meant emargination doh! You can't see the notch unless the wing is splayed! But its still the wrong way round! So much for my memory!
Last edited:
dantheman
Bah humbug
Since this thread is here, just thought i'd ask a basic Marsh/Reed id question ... without embarassing myself too much hopefully ... cracking pics above btw
Rump colour - is this diagnostic in spring (ad) birds? - ie in reasonable light/views would a bird with a concolorous tail/rump/back be a Marsh, or can Reeds' warmer rump colour not always be readily apparent/absent?
Cheers ...
Rump colour - is this diagnostic in spring (ad) birds? - ie in reasonable light/views would a bird with a concolorous tail/rump/back be a Marsh, or can Reeds' warmer rump colour not always be readily apparent/absent?
Cheers ...
Jane Turner
Well-known member
http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/bpp_marsh_vs_reed_warbler_310506.htm
So its actually a Reed Warbler *cough*
So its actually a Reed Warbler *cough*
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Another useful feature is the length of the tertials - longer than the secondaries in Marsh (and not on this bird)
KenM
Well-known member
dantheman
Bah humbug
You didn't say notch so no misunderstanding there. ;-) Good to see I wasn't off and that it should be a Reed.
Jaysan
Well-known member
Jane Turner
Well-known member
Yes... and not for the first time I remembered the right feature for the wrong species!
Its interesting how crisp the edges are to the flight feathers (usually a Marsh feature - though I think for fuscus too) - though the tertials are worn
Its interesting how crisp the edges are to the flight feathers (usually a Marsh feature - though I think for fuscus too) - though the tertials are worn
Last edited:
