Nepal, warbler and hawk (2 Viewers)

[pica pica]

Hello
A couple that I got stuck on on Nepal over the last two weeks:

First a crown striped Phyllosc seen in the Langtang valley at around 3200m. Most of these types I gave up on but managed to get half decent photos of this one but still can't narrow it down to a species!

Second a hawk seen up the Koshi valley at around 1000m i think. Either a Eurasian sparrowhawk or a Besra but can't decide which. Down to primary projection it seems but is that short or long on this?

thanks!

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I'll leave the Accipiter, but the warbler looks good for Western Crowned - double wingbar, grey legs, extensive orange/pink on lower mandible, diffuse grey/yellow wash to central crown stripe, traces of yellow on breast etc.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Also need to consider Blyth's Leaf Warbler. Am having a hard time ruling that out.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Also need to consider Blyth's Leaf Warbler. Am having a hard time ruling that out.

Yes, good point Andrew! I thought the bill looked a bit longer (perhaps favouring WC over BL?), though the super flares over the eye, rather than behind it. Probably best to wait for better informed observers than me to comment!

 

[DMW]

My first impression was Blyth's - looks to have that slight "tilted-up" look to the bill. Also, I think it would be much more likely than WCW in Langtang.

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Agree its a Blyth's Leaf by a combination of bill proportions which, are too slight for WCW, head pattern, evenly broad posterior wing bar and its rather compact, short-tailed appearance. Further, looking closely at the middle image, though by no means conclusive, P1 is very long while P2 is very short and so more indicative of BLW which has a very rounded wing.

BLW and WCW are superficially very similar and consequently easily confused resulting in a lot of mis-identifications, particularly of WCW, as borne out by the Nepal eBird checklist https://ebird.org/india/region/NP/media?yr=all&m= note there are records for WCW all through the winter period which cannot be correct since its a migratory species, wintering in the W Ghats (Sep-Mar), C India and E Ghats (Nov-Apr).

Regarding the Accipiter narrow black tail bars and pp (too long) should exclude Besra. In the absence of further clues I'd leave as Accipiter sp.

Grahame

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Agree its a Blyth's Leaf by a combination of bill proportions which, are too slight for WCW, head pattern, evenly broad posterior wing bar and its rather compact, short-tailed appearance. Further, looking closely at the middle image, though by no means conclusive, P1 is very long while P2 is very short and so more indicative of BLW which has a very rounded wing.

BLW and WCW are superficially very similar and consequently easily confused resulting in a lot of mis-identifications, particularly of WCW, as borne out by the Nepal eBird checklist https://ebird.org/india/region/NP/media?yr=all&m= note there are records for WCW all through the winter period which cannot be correct since its a migratory species, wintering in the W Ghats (Sep-Mar), C India and E Ghats (Nov-Apr).

Regarding the Accipiter narrow black tail bars and pp (too long) should exclude Besra. In the absence of further clues I'd leave as Accipiter sp.

Grahame

Grahame, exceptionally helpful reply as always - thanks for taking the time to explain the plumage in detail, always so much to learn from your contributions!

 

[pica pica]

Agree its a Blyth's Leaf by a combination of bill proportions which, are too slight for WCW, head pattern, evenly broad posterior wing bar and its rather compact, short-tailed appearance. Further, looking closely at the middle image, though by no means conclusive, P1 is very long while P2 is very short and so more indicative of BLW which has a very rounded wing.

BLW and WCW are superficially very similar and consequently easily confused resulting in a lot of mis-identifications, particularly of WCW, as borne out by the Nepal eBird checklist https://ebird.org/india/region/NP/media?yr=all&m= note there are records for WCW all through the winter period which cannot be correct since its a migratory species, wintering in the W Ghats (Sep-Mar), C India and E Ghats (Nov-Apr).

Regarding the Accipiter narrow black tail bars and pp (too long) should exclude Besra. In the absence of further clues I'd leave as Accipiter sp.

Grahame

That sounds very comprehensive and knowledgable so I shall happily accept your opinion! Thanks.

 

[edenwatcher]

In several visits to Nepal at different times of year I think I only saw WCW once - an obvious migrant in Kathmandu in April.

Rob