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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DGRW" data-source="post: 923300" data-attributes="member: 56562">Ruby - The difference in the extent of the summer plumage russet is a good tip.I find it fairly easy (I think) to distinguish the winter plumage as the Bar Tailed tend to have a far more defined patterning on the back.I should be seeing Bar Tailed this weekend and there may be a couple of Black Tailed present too so that'll hopefully give me a good opportunity to re-examine and compare yet again.The main points I'll be trying to note will be comparative stance and structure, that "short legged" look of the Bar Tailed and the extent of the russet as well as the other obvious plumage distinctions (wing bars and tails).Tell you what, just discussing it like this makes the distinctions seem all the more obvious but that's until I get out there and begin to question my own judgement again especially if there are equal quandries and uncertainties amongst other observers (as there usually seem to be).I've even known a few very experienced and knowledgable birders recently that have seemed a little unsure at times.Thanks</blockquote>