I agree with your observations, Geoff.
Even in Tasmania
there are significant plumage variations. I am not sure whether or not
other sub-species migrate to Tasmania.
It is possible that some may get caught up in the general movement back across
the Strait. Equally, it is likely that colour variations are entirely
natural and couls be attributable to age, sex, etc. Incidentally the
photo I provided was taken at Bruny Island several years ago.
Regards
Lindsay
From: Geoffrey Dabb
[
Sent: Friday, 22 April 2011 10:17
AM
To: 'Lindsay Hansch'; 'Peter
Ormay'; 'COG-L'
Subject: Z l Lateralis v. Z l
westernensis
I might have known
that Lindsay, as our Tasmanian authority would have one of those in his pocket.
This is one of this
chatline’s recurrent topics, and I have commented on it elsewhere.
The field guides are little use.
In my view the
differences between the two subspecies can be elusive in the field. Jamie
Mathew’s gave the best account based on available specimens, noting the
overlap in relevant features when individuals were compared. See HANZAB
Vol 7 (B) p1784.
I have photographed
hundreds of these in an attempt to capture the difference in a useful way. So
much depends on state of the plumage (and possibly age and sex) and the
attitude and the light. Moreover the current fashion of over-editing
images can easily turn one subspecies into another. Often the features
said to be determinative point in different directions on the one bird.
In the below the
first two snaps are of the same bird. I have edited them so the first
shows the characters attributed to westernensis and the second shows the
characters attributed to lateralis. Snaps 3 and 4 are of a bird
photographed locally which stood out from the westernensis around about.
It has not been edited as to colour. I take it to be lateralis.
Note the relatively sharp demarcation on the underparts in the second snap.
Those are just my
thoughts. I would be very interested if anyone can take it further.
From: Lindsay Hansch
[
Sent: Friday, 22 April 2011 9:28
AM
To: 'Peter Ormay'; COG-L
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds]
{Spam?} Re: [canberrabirds] Honey-eaters galore
