Hello Richard
The most reliable feature to field ID juvenile Banded Stilt is "Grey
legs" (not pink as in adult birds) with no visible breast band. Adult
birds lose their breast band in non breeding condition and attain a full
rich chestnut breast band in breeding plumage. When suitable flood
events occur, birds will quickly molt into breeding plumage over
several weeks. Partially banded birds are mostly in the process of
molting their breeding garb; however the situation is confused because
some birds (probably older individuals) retain their chestnut breast
band permanently.
See also
http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/birding-aus/2002-07/msg00022.html
Regards
Ian May
St Helens, Tasmania 7216
0428337956
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Richard Nowotny wrote:
I have recently seen large aggregations of Banded Stilt, firstly at Rottnest
Island off Perth (I estimated the total number of birds on the Rottnest salt
lakes to be in the many thousands) and then at the Western Treatment Plant,
Werribee, Victoria (where the numbers are less but still many hundreds to a
thousand). What is of interest apart from the uncommonly large numbers is
the high proportion of juvenile birds present, as evidenced by the number of
birds with no or incomplete chestnut bands. I presume that this reflects a
recent major breeding event on some inland lake (probably in Western
Australia). However, I have not read or heard any report/s of any such
breeding event this year.
Does anyone have any information about Banded Stilt breeding events this
year?
Regards. Richard
Richard NOWOTNY
Port Melbourne, Victoria
M: 0438 224 456
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