Lindsay
This is a case where you need to take a
look at HANZAB, but not to leave it hanging in the air, the information there
is, in summary:
1) chinensis and tigrina were introduced
2) pops in most parts of Aust are intergrades between the 2 ssp
3) there is a pop in Innisfail probably descended from t
4) plumage differences between ssp are not marked but t has eg cream/offwhite
rather than light grey or grey undertail coverts (!) and ‘less pink on
underparts, grading to cream on lower breast (rather than lower belly), and
breast appears slightly browner’ (!). I doubt that this would be
evident in the field.
5) Size differences are not marked but c tends to be ‘slightly
larger than t in Wing and Tarsus
(could not be tested statistically)’.
It seems unlikely that you would strike a
pure tigrina as far south as Bundaberg. I would think any smaller-looking
bird would just be a young one. Note the marked size differences in
Crested Pigeons, depending on age. g
From: Lindsay and
Rhonda [
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006
11:40 AM
To: COG-L
Subject: [canberrabirds] Spotted
Turtle-doves (STD)
Slater’s Field Guide indicates that two forms of STD
were introduced to Australia:
the large Chinese form (race chinesis)
and the small South-East Asian form (race tigrina)
with a pale shoulder patch. During our recent trip to Queensland we encountered many STD’s
particularly around coastal towns such as Bundaberg. It was in Bundaberg
we came across one that was quite different looking to the “normal”
STD. It was larger and with a much longer tail but also featured a light
shoulder patch. I have enclose photos of this bird and the
“normal” STD for comparison. Can anyone explain the
difference? Are these examples of the two races or is the larger bird a
hybrid (Slater notes that the two have hybridised in some areas or could they
hybridise with other pigeons or doves)?
Lindsay Hansch
