Hi, going through some older, poorer quality photos I would like to ask if it is possible to discern whether these are of pallid or common swifts or possibly showing each. Photos were taken at a hotel in central Baghdad that has a 15 story tower, beside the Tigris River. FWIW, Merlin consistently over the years has identified the swifts around the hotel as Pallid, with once in a while claiming it hears a Common.
In favour of Pallid I thought was the scaly under-body and extensive whitish throat in Photo 1, and the light-dark difference in many of the photos between inner and outer wings. However, the wings appear pointed to me. Of course, given photo quality I could be seeing things that are not there
Also, for structure to me the wings seem broad and the tail relatively short compared to the body behind the wing.
The photos are most probably of different birds. The first 6 were taken on Mar 20, 2021 and the last 2 - 1198 & 1199 = on April 1. The date stamp on the photos are correct but the time is off by 4 hours.
All comments and critiques welcomed.
thank you in advance
steve
In favour of Pallid I thought was the scaly under-body and extensive whitish throat in Photo 1, and the light-dark difference in many of the photos between inner and outer wings. However, the wings appear pointed to me. Of course, given photo quality I could be seeing things that are not there
Also, for structure to me the wings seem broad and the tail relatively short compared to the body behind the wing.The photos are most probably of different birds. The first 6 were taken on Mar 20, 2021 and the last 2 - 1198 & 1199 = on April 1. The date stamp on the photos are correct but the time is off by 4 hours.
All comments and critiques welcomed.
thank you in advance
steve
