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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SteveMM" data-source="post: 3527214" data-attributes="member: 130392">Whilst adult mongolicus is straightforward, adult taimyrensis can be anything but. As the taxon has a more northerly distrubution, adults (or near-adults) still in primary moult in February are most likely taimyrensis (if they are not vegae). Attached are, firstly, two adults (or near-adults), both of which have yet to complete P10. They have mid-dark grey mantles, the 'correct' amount of head streaking (a dirty collar), fairly bright yellow bills, and yellow legs (which are more pinkish during winter). The second individual shows the wing. The form typically has one mirror P10 (but regularly also has a second mirror P9), a predominantly dark P10 (from below) with typically a very short tongue which is diagonal in shape, and a darker grey underside to the 'hand' in flight.The last two photos show an adult or near-adult in flight, and the same plumage details as outlined above.Attached: Adult taimyrensis (ID'd by incomplete primary moult, mid-dark grey mantle, dirty collar, single mirror P10, poorly contrasting black wingtip, dark grey hand (from below), underside of P10 with short diagonal tongue, and fairly bright yellow bill and legs).</blockquote>