I think this bird requires a little more consideration.
It could obviously still be a hybrid but it is clearly not a Hardhead. The bill
is completely the wrong shape and lacks any substantial pale tip. The neck is
too thin and long. I agree, jizz-wise, it looks like a Pintail. The plumage is
very subdued but it's really hard to see in this light. The patterning on the
breast isn't obvious except in the front-on shot - which I might add shows fine
patterning, which is lacking in Hardhead but very much present in Pintail. Back
to the bill...Pintail has a bicoloured bill, beginning with a substantial pale
base which is less obvious on eclipse birds. This bird shows this feature -
which is also lacking on Hardhead. I would add though, that the bill does look
a bit too long and chunky but the photos are not great quality to determine
this. Also, the total lack of any patterning around the flank areas is odd but
heavy wear and wet plumage could make this hard to see.
The head shape in m("N05/4350270683/sizes/l/","//www.flickr.com/photos/7388536");">http:
does not look right for Pintail but low resolution photos are not really going
to resolve this.
It would be good to get more detail. Somebody needs to see it fly, ideally.
Also, better images would be good. Can someone take a second look?
Regards,
Simon.
> Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:23:42 +1000
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Re: Possible Northern Pintail, Herdsman Lake,
> Perth, WA
> From:
> To:
> CC:
>
> Hi Nigel,
>
> I hope I speak for most of the list when I say we'd rather hear about a few
> mis-identifications than not hear about a potential cracking rarity! Well
> done for posting and hopefully next time it is a vagrant.
>
> Regards,
> Chris
>
> On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 8:06 PM, Nigel Jackett <>wrote:
>
> > Sorry for any excitement caused! It appears the bird is most likely a
> > juvenile Hardhead, or possibly a Hardhead hybrid.
> >
> > Nigel Jackett
> > Scarborough, WA
> >
> > On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 5:08 PM, Nigel Jackett <
> > >wrote:
> >
> > > Hi everyone,
> > >
> > > I have just returned from Herdsman Lake, where I believe I observed a
> > > Northern Pintail. It appears to be either a male in eclipse plumage, or a
> > > female. It was sitting in the water when I left by itself. However, it
> > was
> > > roosting with other ducks, mainly Grey Teal.
> > > For photos click here:
> > > m("N05/","//www.flickr.com/photos/7388536");">http:
> > >
> > > Herdsman Lake is a suburb northwest of the Perth CBD.
> > > Click below for location of bird in google maps:
> > >
> > >
> > http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=-31.914002,115.800748&spn=0.005291,0.011362&t=h&z=17&msid=106799215115382743119.00047f6390461b7ac69a2
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > > Nigel Jackett
> > > Scarborough, WA
> > >
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