Graham, Keith et al,
Sorry, I should re-iterated where the bird was from on my second posting
(Cairns Esplanade).
I am in the process of chasing up the Tony Palliser paper, as with the current
information I have (various field guides, HANZAB and Hayman et al) I still
cannot see how the primary projection can be the deciding factor. This is
particularly evident from the plumage comparisons made in Hayman et al,
although as this publication is twenty years old I'm sure much has been done in
the interim. I am about to learn!
Thanks for all who have contributed / replied.
Mick
----- Original Message ----
From: Graham Etherington <>
To: kbrandwood <>
Cc: birdingaus <>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 December, 2006 11:07:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] usa golden plover
Keith and all,
I have to disagree that there is nothing to discuss on this bird, or
more specifically on the identification of American Golden Plover.
There are a lot more characters to discuss on the separation of
Pacific Golden Plover from American Golden Plover, like head-shape,
bill size, leg length, primary projection (although there is some
overlap, especially when the bird is moulting, birds out of wing
moult, e.g. juveniles in their first 'winter' plumage are much more
straight forward). In fact I'd say that, at least to my ear and
experience, call is one character which I wouldn't rely on to id a
'Lesser' Golden Plover to species. Sometimes though, it's a suite of
characters that you have to consider, not just one individual
character.
I do somewhat agree with Keith though, that Mick's photo does not show
enough features to identify it as either species.
One thing I am confused about - is Mick's photo the bird at Dry Creek
Saltfields, in SA of which there is another, much more convincing
photo here:
http://www.birdpedia.com/files/au/observation/SA/jpg/8051422780_0001_0001.jpg
Cheers for now,
Graham
On 12/5/06, kbrandwood <> wrote:
> Hi All, Mike, There is nothing to discuss re the photos Mike, there is much
> overlap in plumage colouration between fulva and dominica plovers. It is the
> rear end that determines the species but even that criteria is in flux
> according to recent literature. In my opinion the
> bird will have to be in breeding plumage to confirm it as a USA GP unless you
> are fortunate enough to record the voice.
>
> keith b the beautiful Hawkesbury 60km N/W of Sydney
> www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
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--
Dr. Graham Etherington
Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia
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