One Pallas's Reed Bunting or two? Hong Kong, Nov 2018 (1 Viewer)

[MKinHK]

I photographed these two birds almost a month apart in November 2018 on my San Tin Fishponds patch in Hong Kong.

Pallas's Reed Bunting is a description species in Hong Kong, so when I looked closely and noted the difference in tertials between the two birds I thought I'd ask for any thoughts from those more familiar with moult in buntings and with Pallas's Reed Bunting in particular.

DSC02217 was taken on 4th Nov
DSC02740 was taken on 30th Nov

Thanks in advance of any thoughts.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Mike I am fairly certain you are dealing with two individuals, assuming the moult strategy and timing is similar to CRB where, post-juvenile moult takes place Jul-Sep (early Oct) which includes a variable amount of tertials.

The L/H bird appears to have the two larger tertials retained (old) juvenile-type on the right wing whereas the R/H bird has (replaced?) all adult-type. The tail feathers of the R/H bird appear rather worn and rather pointed so I'd suggest it may also be 1st-w.

Grahame

 

[johnallcock]

They also appear to have different patterns on the central tail feathers, maybe the second bird has replaced the central tail (although I agree with Grahame that most tail feathers look like a 1st winter).

I'd also say there are two individuals here. Pallas's Reed has been recorded more frequently in HK in the last few years, so it would be possible that two birds were present.

 

[MKinHK]

Many thanks Grahame and John - my almost unbelievable autumn / winter 2018/19 at San Tin just keeps getting better and better!

Cheers
Mike