BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="SteveMM" data-source="post: 3526310" data-attributes="member: 130392">A second bird on a different day in flight, providing a chance to look at the wing. The contrast between the scapulars and upperwing coverts is obvious (though surprisingly much of the mantle looks juvenile). Unlike taimyrensis, there's no solid dark bar across the outer greater coverts and (although patterned) these look predominantly white and contrast strongly with the secondaries. The trailing edge is broken by a wide white stripe formed by the tips of P1-4, and these contain dark 'arrowhead' markings. The pale in this area forms a prominent window. Additionally, much of the outer wing looks a lot browner (faded) than it does on taimyrensis, suggesting the feathers are older. Attached: First-winter mongolicus (ID'd by uniformly pale blue-grey scapulars (with narrow markings) which contrast with predominantly white (bleached) retained juvenile coverts (as do secondaries), white trailing edge P1-4 (and prominent window), older brownish-looking outer wing, and no evidence of feather replacement).</blockquote>