birding-aus

Re: Possible non-breeding Little Stint in Penrhyn Estuary, Sydney

To: "birding-aus" <>
Subject: Re: Possible non-breeding Little Stint in Penrhyn Estuary, Sydney
From: "Robert Inglis" <>
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 16:18:12 +1000
OK,
I'm going to make a total goose of myself twice by asking two questions:

In a posting dated "Wed, 6 Dec 2006 15:13:07 -0800 (PST)" Tun Pin Ong provided some links to his very good images.

My question 1: Which bird in each of the photos containing more than one bird are we supposed to be looking at?

In a posting dated "Thu, 7 Dec 2006 11:27:56 +1100" Jeff Davies said:

"G'day Tun Pin,
Your stint does indeed look like a good candidate for little Stint,.......... ."
Cheers Jeff Davies."

My question 2: Why?

Obviously I haven't yet seen a Little Stint, at least, to the best of my 
knowledge.
But I have seen more than a few Red-necked Stints.
Recently I took well over 100 photos of the 'local' Stints and, on reviewing the images, I noticed a visible variation in plumage, the bill shape and size, and the apparent leg length amongst the birds. I assumed this was due to: viewing angle, variations in the light, age differences in the birds, differences in the rate of change from "breeding" to "non-breeding" plumages.

Perhaps I am making unfounded assumptions.

Interestingly, HANZAB states (under Red-necked Stint) that the call is "easy and safe way to distinguish Little from Red-necked". However, "Shorebirds" (Hayman, Marchant, Prater 1986) says (also under Red-necked Stint): "Calls are very similar to those of Little Stint and generally of little value in separating these two species".

I am curious as to how the experts identify Little Stint in the field.

Cheers

Bob Inglis
Sandstone Point
Qld.


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