Pacific golden plover and ? S. Thailand (1 Viewer)

[bhutjoe]

Hi, these photos were taken on Dec 17 on the dikes around the Hat Yai water treatment plant in Southern Thailand. All 3 birds were close together. Photo 1 shows a Pacific golden plover I believe, given the sheen to its feathers. In the other 3 photos there are two birds. I believe the one in front is also a pacific golden plover but the one behind seems to me to have quite different pattern to its feathers. I am wondering if it is another species, perhaps a black bellied plover. Or am I just seeing a difference that is not really there
Thank you in advance for your comments.
steve

 

[johnallcock]

All Pacific Golden Plovers. There is a degree of variation in the upperpart pattern, with some having more complete fringes (like the bird in the background here) and other more spotting.