Mike, Steve et al,
I'm not sure if my other post reached the list (it hasn't hit my inbox), but
wouldn't a sub-adult Great not have any axillary spurs at all? The ones that
are on the subject bird are also set a long way forward on the belly patch and
are quite prominent, which would rule out Great as well. They actually appear
to reach the underwing in some of the images.
On plumage I think CI and Lesser the main potential confusion species, but as
you say Mike the bill doesn't look long enough for CI. The belly patch looks
the wrong shape for Lesser and it doesn't seem to "point backwards" on the 4th
image, which shows the best view of the bird's underside...but as I said I
think the spurs could actually reach the underwing of the bird.
I would be hesitant to use Pizzey as a guide for this (or other young frigates)
and I also don't think we should identify on range either, rather what the bird
actually is. Would it be impossible for a bird like that to round the Cape?? ;-)
Mick
________________________________
From: Mike Carter <>
To: Steve Clark <>;
Cc: 'David James' <>
Sent: Tuesday, 15 January 2013 1:59 PM
Subject: Tanzanians need help with Frigatebird id
In case he missed this posting, I've forwarded this request to David James who
knows this group well having lived for three years+ on Christmas Island where
all three Australian species breed. David wrote a paper on their ID published
in 2004 in BirdingASIA 1, 22-38.
However here are a few comments from me. It is a sub-adult bird but because it
appears to have a wholly white head lacking any tawny colouration, it is not a
fresh juvenile. The white spurs seem to me to be restricted to the sides of the
breast not extending onto the underwing which suggests to me that it is not a
Lesser Frigatebird. The bill doesn't look long enough for a Christmas
Frigatebird so assuming that it is of Indian Ocean origin, (Ascension Island is
in another ocean without a tropical waters link), my not very confident vote
would be for Great Frigatebird.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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