What Wheatear do I have here? Persian or Desert? Location: Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India (1 Viewer)

[VS97]

I originally believed this was a Female Desert but now I'm having doubts given the habitat the bird was found in. The area of capture was in a glen in a mountainous region. However it might also be the wintering range of the Desert Wheatear. Both species are known in and around the area I believe. I only got this angle unfortunately.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Richard Prior]

Warm toned, pale shoulder and no supercilium all suggest Desert Wheatear to me VS.

 

[VS97]

Warm toned, pale shoulder and no supercilium all suggest Desert Wheatear to me VS.

Happy to pay that. Cheers Richard!

 

[smiths]

It's a Persian wheatear; you can see the rufous tail sides.
The grey neck patch (like a garden warbler) is also typical, and desert wheatear would show very pale sandy lesser coverts (i.e. I don't see a "warm toned, pale shoulder" here).

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

It's a Persian wheatear; you can see the rufous tail sides.
The grey neck patch (like a garden warbler) is also typical, and desert wheatear would show very pale sandy lesser coverts (i.e. I don't see a "warm toned, pale shoulder" here).

I totally agree.

 

[VS97]

It's a Persian wheatear; you can see the rufous tail sides.
The grey neck patch (like a garden warbler) is also typical, and desert wheatear would show very pale sandy lesser coverts (i.e. I don't see a "warm toned, pale shoulder" here).

thanks for the detailed response. I'm happy to go with Persian now