ID help: Acro or Hippolais warbler, Kolkata, India (3 Viewers)

[Jane Turner]

I don't think that it is definitely anything! Sumit is very familiar with Blunt-winged warbler and was not happy with that diagnosis. I can't get past how unlike Acro (or Hippo) it looks in all but two of the photos! Yet that ple, almost sandy rump, contrasting with dark tail feathers ad pale tail tips is common to all the photos, including the ones where it does look like an Acro!

 

[Sumit]

>> I don't think that it is definitely anything!
I'd agree with that for this one.

I am fairly certain that it is not a Blunt-winged that I know. But A. concinens has much racial variation and I am familiar only with stevensi which is found in eastern India. Haringtoni and hokrae occur in the northwest of the subcontinent and I have no idea what they look like in real life. I understand that the taxonomy of this species is yet not fully resolved and there are significant variations in plumage, colour, moult schedule etc. making individuals difficult to allocate.
Complexities such as these, perhaps, makes an individual acro. difficult to pin down, especially if it is in moult or if the plumage shows wear. In my experience, either birds like these are immediately identified by someone who is familiar with the bird or they become a part of a missing piece that finds a home once more is known about birds of the type. Often, someone, posts a similar image and that throws more light.
Fair to say that many who are experienced with reed birds of our region have had a look at this bird (maybe not all the images posted here) but no one has been categorical about it despite fairly clear images covering many angles. It may have been easier with one dodgy image - that usually ends in a solution .
I have learnt to live with birds that are not fully understood/identified all the time. Time and more experience often helps. This bird was photographed in 2005 and has been dusted out twice. Another year and newer knowledge/eyes may bring rewarding answers. I am game with that rather than risk mislabeling a bird.
Thanks to everyone for their time and interest. Much appreciated.
Cheers!
Sumit

 

[bitterntwisted]

Sumit,

As one of the extremely small club with field experience of orinus have you ruled it out for this bird? I guess these photos were taken before the rediscovery and hence it perhaps was not even considered a possibility at the time?

Graham

 

[Sumit]

Hi Graham,

Orinus is rather well named. It really has an impressive bill. Please see attached. While some traits/features appear similar, overall orinus is a fantail-flycatcher like bird - glides across branches like a falling leaf. This bird was more a typical reed bird in behaviour.

And to be honest with you, as far as orinus goes, I only thought that the bird was very different from Blyth's Reed and posted the images requesting views of others. Based on positive feedback from some I sent the images to Philip Round (who caught the 1st live orinus) and Phil, plus a battery of specialists, supported the ID.

I really don't have the skill to go out that far with these birds. I can feel odd about some, like this bird, and I try to take decent images, read up all the text and check all the available images and keep detailed field notes and then, if still in doubt, hope that experts will help me out. I have used the same method to document India's first mainland Japanese Sparrowhawk and India's 1st Japanese Red-Backed Shrike (Lanius cristatus superciliosus). The inputs of many is of great value and is one of the reasons that I keep coming back for help to various forums with odd birds - you never know, little is known about birds of the subcontinent and something new can pop-up.

In closing, others who have supported orinus have since seen these images and have not commented. They are far better birders than I am |=)|
Cheers!
Sumit