Milburn has raised some interesting points and I must admit that Nightingale
had never occurred to me. The jizz looks more like a redstart to me and, for
now, I'm sticking to my original thought of female Common Redstart. I agree
with Dan that the dark central feathers of the tail fit with Redstart, rather
than Nightingale, but I wouldn't know whether first winter birds do not have a
full rufous tail. The fairly prominent buff eye ring for me seems diagnostic
of Common Redstart and the flattish head too. The bill does look a little too
robust for Redstart but this impression may be accentuated by the open bill.
It would be helpful if Lindsay could say more about the behaviour of the bird.
For instance, did it frequently quiver its tail?
Regards
Frank
-----Original message-----
From: Daniel Mantle
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:51:44 +1100
To:
Subject: Bird ID: Common Redstart/Common Nightingale
>
> Hi Pete and Lindsay
>
>
>
> I still think this is a female Common Redstart. Common Nightingale have PALE
> LEGS, are much more richly brown (to reddy brown) toned above (not the washed
> out brown of this bird - even taking into account the bright light), have
> greyer colouration around the brown ear coverts, and would have an evenly
> coloured reddish-brown tail (NOT the dark central tail feathers). I don't
> think you will ever see such a strong contrast between the upper tail colour
> and mantle colour of a Common Nightingale. In my opinion the tail is square
> enough ended for Common Redstart and the wing structure and covert edges are
> ok for this species too. And I think the pale lores are also fine for a
> female Common Redstart (in fact maybe better for this species than Common
> Nightingale).
>
>
>
> Plus, you would be very lucky to see a Common Nightingale showing this well
> in the open. They are skulkers most of the time.
>
>
>
> More discussion or feedback would be great.
>
>
>
> Cheers Dan
>
>
>
>
> Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:02:14 +1100
> From:
> To: ;
> Subject: [canberrabirds] Bird ID: Common Nightingale
>
> Its a very long time since I have seen one but I think that this may be a
> first winter Common Nightingale. Points in favour versus female Common
> Redstart:
>
> Rounded not square ended tail.
> Large separation between tips of visible primaries.
> Heavy bill (pale gape reveals age).
> Dark wing coverts with broad pale fringes creating an especially obvious line
> of dark spots through the lesser wing coverts.
> Pale lores.
>
> It is not a Sprosser (Thrush Nightingale) because inter alia there are four
> primary tips visible and the tip of the alula is just visible below the
> greater primary coverts.
>
> Milburn
>
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