[ Last edited by kkitty at 25/02/2011 17:47 ] Author: brendank Time: 24/02/2011 21:21
Great find!!! It seems that there may be some broken or missing tail feathers. Do you have a better shot of the tail? It would be helpful for looking for cage damage. Author: kmike Time: 24/02/2011 21:58
Great find Kitty and wonderful photographs!
Brendan I have to disagree about the tail. Hawfinch has a very short forked tail, which these pictures show reasonably clearly albeit from a side view. Indeed both the wings and tail look to be in excellent condition to me - while a HKU PhD study of the bird trade showed that some 95% of cagebirds show damage.
In my opinion both this bird and the bird I saw today in Lam Tsuen (which may actually be the same bird) add greater weight to the case that Hawfinch does indeed as far south as Hong Kong as a genuinely wild bird.
Cheers
Mike Author: iherman Time: 24/02/2011 22:21
Great find Author: kkitty Time: 24/02/2011 22:31
Thanks for comments.
For Brendan's concern, I have selected one more picture for reviewing :-)
I have seen two Hawfinches on 21/2. However, I can only find one of them on 22/2.
[ Last edited by kkitty at 25/02/2011 01:13 ] Author: brendank Time: 24/02/2011 22:51
From this angle it does appear natural although some photos of Hawfinch seem to have more white in the tail than this bird. However, there is probably some variation in the amount of white in the tail. Author: Stonechat Time: 24/02/2011 23:57
Wow...great find, 
Kitty... 
