Azure Gallinule? (1 Viewer)

[Finlay Fraser]

I'm new here so please indulge me if I post a question about birds I identified at an earlier time.
I took this photo in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, December 2016, from an oxbow lake next to Rio Tambopata, Madre de Dios region. My guide thought it was a sandpiper, but I believe it is a rare Azure Gallinule. These are not so uncommon further south such as in Argentina I think, but only very occasionally seen in Peru and when they are seen it is in Dec-Jan in the Madre de Dios area (according to my Peruvian bird book), so that all fits.
Opinions very welcome....

 

[Butty]

I hope your guide was cheap and/or went home without a tip 🙁

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Looks like Azure Gallinule to me

 

[Microtus]

It is definitely an Azure Gallinule (Azure Gallinule)

 

[Finlay Fraser]

I hope your guide was cheap and/or went home without a tip 🙁

Haha, no, he was very good and got a decent tip. We were not there for birding so that was not his speciality. He did find Jaguars and giant river otters and other things we had not been able to find on an earlier visit, and that was his remit, along with much detailed knowledge of the flora. Also, he did know the birds, but I suspect this was something he hadn’t seen before 😊

 

[Finlay Fraser]

It is definitely an Azure Gallinule (Azure Gallinule)

Thank you very much Larry and Microtus. I’ve been wondering about it for years!

 

[Butty]

he did know the birds

'Sandpiper' v. rail at that range?!
But I'm sure s/he was jolly nice, so we'll let her/him off 👍🏻

 

[Sangahyando]

Haha, no, he was very good and got a decent tip. We were not there for birding so that was not his speciality. He did find Jaguars and giant river otters and other things we had not been able to find on an earlier visit, and that was his remit, along with much detailed knowledge of the flora. Also, he did know the birds, but I suspect this was something he hadn’t seen before 😊

To put the reaction of the other posters into perspective, this bird is a very typical-looking rail species in what looks to be typical rail habitat, so mistaking it for a sandpiper is a bit of an odd mistake for an experienced naturalist, even one that isn't a birder. Maybe it can be ascribed to being a "lost in translation" type of thing.

 

[Finlay Fraser]

To put the reaction of the other posters into perspective, this bird is a very typical-looking rail species in what looks to be typical rail habitat, so mistaking it for a sandpiper is a bit of an odd mistake for an experienced naturalist, even one that isn't a birder. Maybe it can be ascribed to being a "lost in translation" type of thing.

Yes, well he may have said it was a rail, not sandpiper, but it was 5 years ago and all I’m really certain of is he didn’t identify it accurately. Anyway, my curiosity is now satisfied.

 

[Finlay Fraser]

'Sandpiper' v. rail at that range?!
But I'm sure s/he was jolly nice, so we'll let her/him off 👍🏻

Sarcasm not called for.

 

[Butty]

Sarcasm not called for.

Nor given. It's clear from what you said that you had great respect for her/him and had a great time. One can ask for little more.