Pipit in Goa (1 Viewer)

[Sherpa]

Hi guys

Can anyone tell me, is the pattern of the median coverts 100% diagnostic in adult Blyth's Pipit versus Paddyfield Pipit, and if so, is this bird a Blyth's?

It was photographed last week in Goa. It's upright stance was due to me stalking it. The picture of the bird facing away is better exposed and more representative.

In flight it did both Blyth's Pipit calls (to my ear).

But I am going round in circles trying to be sure. I have been told by one person that the hind claw may be too long for Blyth's.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Not much help but, a bit of solidarity!:

I drove myself nuts chasing after pipits in India trying to find a Blyth's, so I can relate to this. Firstly I think the med covt internal marking shape only applies to birds that have moulted their first ones (maybe not your bird?). When I finally saw what had to be a Blyth's (twitched in the UK!), I thought it sounded not unlike what I've always taken to be within variation of Paddyfield Pipit call. I've seen thousands of what I've called (various forms of) Paddyfield Pipits, but maybe my ear's not that good. Your bird does appear to show pale lores, which I think is better for Blyth's than Paddyfield, but this is a feature that I find maddeningly difficult to assess, depending on the light and the angle of the bird's head. And as for whether a bird has buffy washed flanks or other areas of the underparts or not- they all do depending on the angle in that intense light as far as I can make out.

I have all but given up on believing I'll ever be 'good' enough to identify Blyth's vs Paddyfield, though I haven't been anywhere where Blyth's is the common one (or maybe I have!!).

I'm very much looking forward to hearing what others have to say on what this bird is.

 

[Sherpa]

This bird has a complete set of adult median coverts. So yes, this feature applies to 'my bird'.

 

[halftwo]

To my eyes this certainly has pro-Blyth's features: particularly the relatively short tail - about the same length as the exposed tertials. Also the bill looks shortish and conical.
The median coverts aren't that good a feature.
The hind claw looks OK for Blyth's for me.

H

 

[Sherpa]

Thanks Halftwo. Interesting that you say that the median covert pattern is not so useful. Both Inskip and Rasmussen state in their Indian field guides that Paddyfield has the same pattern as Richards. Implying that it should be useful. But I am beginning to think you are right. There are pictures on the OBC website of 'Paddyfield' that look like they have squared-off median coverts.

I'm hunting round the house for my copy of Pipits and Wagtails, but in the meantime would really appreciate more help on this thread....

 

[rockfowl]

I think that its a tricky one Paul, despite the quality of the two images.
It doesn't help that there maybe some misidentified images on the OBC site and on the web on the whole.
For me it shows many of the features that I would expect of a Blyth's, though the mantle seems a bit too dull for a typical Blyth's, the streaking is usually more defined. Hard to judge the general jizz for me due to the posture and alertness. Blyth's often appear rather short-legged, this bird doesn't. The tail, shorter on Paddyfield than Richards anyway looks a tad longer than what I'm used to with Blyth's, but again it could easily be due to the alert posture. I've seen many Paddyfield's showing pale looking lores and its something as others have said that is hard to judge due to light, angles etc though yours in the two seems consistently pale. The hind claw does look slightly long to me too. With regard the median covert shape, these look better for Blyth's as you know...

Wished I'd seen it in the field..

 

[Sherpa]

Thanks Mark.

I tracked down my copy of Alstrom's Pipit and Wagtails, and am more happy that it is Blyth's. I first noticed it by its explosive pshoo call, followed soon after by a couple of cheps. The book reinforced by memory that Paddfield have no call that sounds like former of these two calls, although the cheps sound very similar. Added to the median coverts, that's pretty strong evidence.

But again, I'm open minded if anyone else would care to comment.