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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Bird Identification 鳥類辨識 >>  Ashy Minivet?
        
(Message started by: cupid on Oct 20^th, 2005, 6:52pm)

Title: Ashy Minivet?
Post by cupid on Oct 20^th, 2005, 6:52pm

Hi!

Would someone tell me whether it is an Ashy Minivet?

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/PhotoG/cupid/cupid_38.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/cupid/image/51009737.jpg
Tai Po Kau / 17-Oct-2005

Thanks in advance.

Cupid

Title: Re: Ashy Minivet?
Post by Mike Kilburn on Oct 20^th, 2005, 8:35pm

Ithink it is Ashy Minivet.

You need to separate it from Swinhoe's Minivet. How?

Refer to page 160 of the Birds of Hong Kong and South China (8th edition)

First of all decide if the bird is male or female:

Since the face is not white it is clearly not an adult male, so you only have to compare the pix of the females.

The two easiest features are:

a) the wing-bar - Ashy has a wing bar, Swinhoe's has a large wing spot.
b) the colour of the back and underparts - Swinhoe's is brownish pale brownish on the breast and darker on the back, while Ashy has a grey back and a white belly.

As a result you can safely claim your bird is Ashy Minivet.

You could also check the likelihood of ech species' occurrence in the Avifauna . Swinhoe's is very rare in autumn, while a small passage of Ashy is shown between late sSeptember and early October.

Cheers
Mike K