Mystery plover in Amboseli, Kenya (18/08/24) - maybe Chestnut-banded? (1 Viewer)

[Ben_T]

Hi everyone!

Third bird from Kenya - only bad pics for this one.

This was in Amboseli, on the 18th of August. It was not far from Observation hill, near a wetland. I noticed that this plover was lighter in color than the Kittlitz’s and the Three-banded around it, without cream tones. It was also slightly smaller. It has a full white neckband, and spurs on the sides of the breast. In some pictures, it looks as if there is a bit of chestnut on the spur and next to the head (pics 5 and 7). I could not stop for long and so I left after taking a few pictures, but I was thinking that it could be a Chestnut-banded Plover. What do you guys think?

As always thanks in advance to everyone who might want to offer an opinion!

Best,

Ben

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Sorry but it is definitely not Chestnut-banded. The photos don't show many details but I would guess White-fronted Plover Anarhynchus marginatus.

 

[Tib78]

It’s indeed a Chestnut-banded plover.

 

[Ben_T]

Sorry but it is definitely not Chestnut-banded. The photos don't show many details but I would guess White-fronted Plover Anarhynchus marginatus.

Thanks for the answer! Why not Chestnut-banded? In picture 7 and 5 you can see a bit of chestnut, and it looks very similar to these pictures (ML619725582 - Chestnut-banded Plover - Macaulay Library ML617735638 - Chestnut-banded Plover - Macaulay Library). In particular, the pure white breast and the "spurs" on the sides look good for it. For what concerns White-fronted Plover, nothing to be sorry about - I would love that! It would be a regional rarity, the first time that it is ever reported in Amboseli. It is very rare in the interior, with just a handful of historical records in Tsavo (which is not super close). However, I do not see a plumage where White-fronted Plover has the "spurs", and note that this bird is smaller than the Kittlitz's closeby - which is okay for Chestnut-banded, but not for White-fronted I think.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Thanks for the answer! Why not Chestnut-banded? In picture 7 and 5 you can see a bit of chestnut, and it looks very similar to these pictures (ML619725582 - Chestnut-banded Plover - Macaulay Library ML617735638 - Chestnut-banded Plover - Macaulay Library). In particular, the pure white breast and the "spurs" on the sides look good for it. For what concerns White-fronted Plover, nothing to be sorry about - I would love that! It would be a regional rarity, the first time that it is ever reported in Amboseli. It is very rare in the interior, with just a handful of historical records in Tsavo (which is not super close). However, I do not see a plumage where White-fronted Plover has the "spurs", and note that this bird is smaller than the Kittlitz's closeby - which is okay for Chestnut-banded, but not for White-fronted I think.

It seems you have identified the birds you've seen them, not me ; I've only your distant photos. I've seen plenty of both subspecies and wouldn't identify Chestnut-banded here, but that was decades ago, so I might be wrong.