Beihai, Guangxi, China ID Questions: accipiter, plovers (1 Viewer)

[Barbets48]

Several ID questions from Beihai, Guangxi, China. Seen in past week. Three separate birds and ID questions.

1 (photo 1): first-year accipiter, thinking Shikra or Japanese Sparrowhawk, but uncertain about what the number of wing "fingers" and tail shape would indicate.

2. (photo 2): Sand Plover, uncertain whether Lesser or Greater.

3 (photos 3-5): small plover. This bird was on a beach mudflat on the Gulf with numerous Kentish Plovers. Perhaps this bird is Kentish as well, but the seeming absence of a dark line between the bill and eye along with general pale appearance made me wonder about White-faced Plover, which seems possible in the area as well.

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Hi Mike,

1. Very difficult from this single grainy image but suspect its a juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawk based on underpart markings, notably strongly barred flanks and, tail structure. BTW, both have 5 fingers. Probably best left as Accipiter sp.
2. Lesser Sand Plover based on bill structure and stance.
3. White-faced Plover.

Grahame

 

[Barbets48]

Hi Mike,

1. Very difficult from this single grainy image but suspect its a juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawk based on underpart markings, notably strongly barred flanks and, tail structure. BTW, both have 5 fingers. Probably best left as Accipiter sp.
2. Lesser Sand Plover based on bill structure and stance.
3. White-faced Plover.

Grahame

Grahame, as always thanks so much for the help! Regarding the White-faced plover, is the lack of black between the bill and eye a main way to distinguish it from Kentish? Are there other factors to look for in basic plumage?

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Mike, iIn addition to the absence of loral stripe, note uniformly pale upperparts, reduced pectoral bar + structural differences including rather large, rounded head. Rediscovery of a long-lost Charadrius plover from South-East Asia, Peter Kennerley, David Bakewell and Philip Round.

Grahame