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Topic: Starling sp (Read 1020 times) |
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geoff_welch
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 I love Po Toi
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  Po Toi 4/5/2005 At first I thought this was a female White-shouldered Starling. But I photographed it because it seemed wrong and it was on its own whereas all previous White-shouldered Starlings were in flocks. The eye seems wrong for White-shouldered - fieldguides and photos show a white eye with a dark centre whereas this bird has an all dark eye. Is it possible this is a female Purple-backed Starling?
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« Last Edit: May 6th, 2006, 12:02pm by geoff_welch » |
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miket
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 I'd rather be birding!
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Re: Starling sp
« Reply #1 on: May 6th, 2006, 11:42am » |
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Definitely Purple-backed or Chestnut-cheeked, Geoff. Separation of these two difficult on these pics alone, but what we can see of the amount of white in the wings favours Purple-backed, assuming it is a female. Spring records of this species are very few indeed, two to the end of 98 per the Avifauna. As you may have seen, on a similar note, there is only previous spring record of Yellow-rumped Fly. noted in the Avifauna. Mike Turnbull
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geoff_welch
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Re: Starling sp
« Reply #2 on: May 6th, 2006, 1:18pm » |
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Thanks Mike. With regards to the rare spring migrants, I guess spring migrants move through Hong Kong very quickly and are therefore less likely to be seen than in autumn when they are not in so much of a hurry. I am fortunate to be able to watch Po Toi throughout the week so if they only stay a few days, I have more chance of seeing them. I note Lanceolated Warbler is similarly a rare spring migrant, so congratulations, you've got one of your own.
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