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Pipit, raptor and nightjar form Shaffa, Saudi Arabia. (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter ammadoux
- Start date
ammadoux
Registered doux
breeding pipits in that region are, Tawny, long billed and African.
WOW shikra thats a lifer, glad i did not assume its just another kestrel.
ammadoux
Registered doux
in Jeddah the resident breeding is the Nubian, Egyptian and European are visitors either passage or not sure if the Egyptian is breeding Spring visitor.
Grahame Walbridge
Well-known member
1st bird is a Long-billed Pipit.
Grahame
Grahame
lou salomon
the birdonist
I agree on adult male Shikra for no. 2.
However, I have some difficulties with no. 1 being a Long-billed Pipit although colours seem to favour that species (greyish upperparts, darkish buff underparts). Its supercilium is rather short, broad and abrupt ending, bill is rather short and not at all 'hooked' at tip (or with downcurved upper mandible), so I'm a bit on the fence between Tawny and Long-billed here. But I don't have experience with Long-billed Pipit, so, could well be wrong. Could you please tell, what makes you feel certain about LBP, Grahame?
Can't ID the nightjar.
However, I have some difficulties with no. 1 being a Long-billed Pipit although colours seem to favour that species (greyish upperparts, darkish buff underparts). Its supercilium is rather short, broad and abrupt ending, bill is rather short and not at all 'hooked' at tip (or with downcurved upper mandible), so I'm a bit on the fence between Tawny and Long-billed here. But I don't have experience with Long-billed Pipit, so, could well be wrong. Could you please tell, what makes you feel certain about LBP, Grahame?
Can't ID the nightjar.
Well without access to pipits book, and just based on photos...
reluctantly agree long-billed (initially thought possibly African: doesn't have what I'd call a long bill...). Not tawny, because (e.g.): pattern of malar, submoustachial etc poorly developed (usually strong, clear in tawny); ground colour is greyish not tawny; buff fringes to flight feathers are thin not thick; breast streaking is quite extensive (often missing, faint on tawny).
kuzeycem
Medicinal Birding
Tawny Pipit should have smaller and well-defined dark centres to median coverts; LBP has these broader and more diffuse.
I don't know anything about African though.
Grahame Walbridge
Well-known member
Lou, I shall address your main concern regarding the supercilium appearing 'cut-off'', suspect its due to overlaying crown feathers, there is a paler continuation beyond the apparent 'break', the supercilium can be seen to be long and downcurved. With regards bill length, probably at the short end of range but maybe due in part to foreshortening, the head turned very slightly to the left. In all other respects it looks a typical Long-billed, the key differences already explained, presumably ssp. arabicus in Saudi Arabia.
Grahame
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Two things about that: you wrote that the photo was not from Jeddah but from "Shaffa mountain near Taif". Secondly, please see part of the range of Montane Nightjar from Birds of the World in the snip below; I circled the area on the Arabian Peninsula occupied by this species.
Niels
Markings on the flying bird are incompatible with any of those and match montane nightjar (e.g. white outer tail feathers, not just tail corners)
lou salomon
the birdonist
Thank you. I had actually seen that particular continuation but wasn't sure it was part of the supercilium.
ammadoux
Registered doux
found this shot.
Attachments
Still a long billed pipit...
ammadoux
Registered doux
thanks so much everyone.
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