G'day Greg and David,
The reduced white wing and back pattern we tend to associate with Australian
Pied Oystercatcher is mostly typical of birds in the south east. As you go
north the amount of white increases and consequently individuals like
Laurie's bird can be easily found in places like Broome in particular and
elsewhere. Did Laurie get any better shots of this bird on the deck, a safer
way to ID SIPO.
Cheers Jeff.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Greg & Val Clancy
Sent: Thursday, 27 January 2011 4:59 PM
To: Laurie Knight; Birding Aus
Cc: ; Pat and Clive Minton; Bo Totterman
Subject: An Unusual Oystercatcher at the Manly Wader
Roost[SEQ]
Hi Laurie,
I am quite confident that your Pied Oystercatcher is not a SIPO (South
Island Pied Oystercatcher). Its legs are too long and its bill too short.
The white pattern on the trailing edge of the wings is unusual but there
seems to be a great variation in this feature in Australian Pied
Oystercatchers. The fact that the birds are juveniles may also account for
the extra amount of white in the wing. The white wing bar doesn't really
reach the trailing edge of the wing as in a SIPO but is connected to it by
the black and white ('zebra') markings.
Regards
Greg Clancy
Coutts Crossing
NSW
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