[OB] Unidentified egrets, Crhistmas I.

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Cheers, Justin

 [OB] Unidentified egrets, Crhistmas I.
Author: David James
Date:   07-18-04 07:11

Hi all,
There are two small egrets on Christmas Island at the moment which are proving difficult to identify. I'm hoping someone can help.
They most resemble Chinese egret, a species which has not been recorded on CI (or in Australia of which CI is a territory). Their plumages are all white. They are about 10% smaller than a white morph Eastern Reef in the same area. They are also more slender in neck and head, and have longer, more pointed wings and slimmer legs. Their legs are grey-green (1 light, 1 medium), yellower on the hind tarsus. Feet yellowish, brighter on soles. Bill mostly dark grey (almost black), with orange grey panel on basal 2/3 of lower mandible. Slimmer than bill of Reef and largely of even whidth. Line of culmen staright. Facial skin greenish (1), greenish-yellow (1); narrower on lores than width of bill. 1 has a short bushy tuft on the nape, perhaps remnants of a nuchal crest.
From the literature and my experience, both Eastern Reef and Little can be eliminated.
However, the tarsi of these birds are fairly short, not obviously longer than that of reef egret, similar to lenght of bill, but bill perhaps slightly longer. Longer than tibia but not by a lot. In flight ONLY FEET AND TOES trail the tail, no trailing tarsus. This seems to contradict some literature on Chinese (eg. Wells 1999). Poole et al 1999 did not address the issue, and either do the guides and handbooks I have access to.
When feeding they are more active than both Eastern Reef and Intermediate, but don't dash or run. They are feeding on the golf course fairways, as is the Eastern reef, Itermediate and White Faced Heron. There are no swamps or or tidal mudflats on CI so habitat is not helpful.
IF any one is interested I can provide more detailed descriptions and mediocre photos.
I'd be most grateful for any assistance.
Cheers
David James
Christmas Island




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