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Subject: ID Please [Print This Page]

Author: LeungKowkMing Time: 11/12/2012 16:50 Subject: ID Please

ID Please, thanks

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Author: subbuteo Time: 11/12/2012 19:22

This looks like a Chinese/White-shouldered Starling that has been dyed then released from captivity. Could you give the date and location please?

Dylan

PS I'll go with HFCheung's suggestion below and check my books in future- what an unusual coloration! I've not seen one of these before.
PPS I'll go with John on this one :-)

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 12/12/2012 19:53 ]

Author: HFCheung Time: 11/12/2012 20:28

Isn't that Chestnut-tailed Starling from Kowloon Park?

Author: ajohn Time: 12/12/2012 08:56

Dylan, you were right first time. This is a male White-shouldered Starling - you can even see the white 'shoulders'. The head pattern and bill colour also fit White-shouldered rather than Chestnut-tailed. And of course the tail is dark with a paler tip, rather than chestnut!

I'm not sure whether it has been dyed, or whether it is just a factor of the lighting on this bird or perhaps dirt. Dyed individuals are usually brighter than this, and are usually seen in spring rather than winter. A date and location would be useful.

Author: LeungKowkMing Time: 12/12/2012 15:15

Thanks for the answers

It is taken in KAMTIN arround 27 Apr 2012

Another angle

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Author: HFCheung Time: 12/12/2012 20:58

Strange time to see White-shouldered Starling. Is there some chestnut on the tail? How likely are there to have hybrid?

Author: ajohn Time: 13/12/2012 08:47

It's not a strange time to see White-shouldered Starling. They regularly winter in small numbers at Deep Bay and Kam Tin, and is certainly a more likely sighting that Chestnut-tailed or a hybrid (as far as I know, hybridisation has never been found in these species). Having said that, we now have the information that this bird was photographed in late April - a time when there are White-shouldered Starlings breeding at Kam Tin and probably migrants around as well.
The features on this bird clearly fit male White-shouldered, possibly with some staining or dye in the plumage.

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