HKBWS BBS 香港觀鳥會新聞組


    
      
        HKBWS BBS 香 港 觀 鳥 會 新 聞 組
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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Bird Identification 鳥類辨識 >>  Skylark Question
        
(Message started by: 深藍 Owen on Oct 27^th, 2005, 3:21pm)

Title: Skylark Question
Post by 深藍 Owen on Oct 27^th, 2005, 3:21pm

is the following a Northern Skylark?
what about the photo #4 that the female (i assume) color a lot lighter than the male? is it normal or the female is a Oriental Skylark actaully? Thanks..!!

Long Valley
Canon 20D
27/10/2005

#1
http://www.pbase.com/bluetitan/image/51348950.jpg
#2
http://www.pbase.com/bluetitan/image/51348948.jpg
#3
http://www.pbase.com/bluetitan/image/51348949.jpg
#4
http://www.pbase.com/bluetitan/image/51348947.jpg

Title: Re: Skylark Question
Post by Mike Kilburn on Oct 28^th, 2005, 1:30am

the front bird in pic 4 is a Red-throated Pipit - rounded head (no crest), finer streaking and a tinner bill are the easiest features on these views.

the other bird, which aappears in all the pix, is a Northern Skylark (although with all that rufous it may be Japanese). It can be separated from oriental skylark by the long primaries, the large amount of rufous on the cheek and the edge of the wing feathers.

Cheers
Mike K

Title: Re: Skylark Question
Post by 深藍 Owen on Oct 28^th, 2005, 7:41am

Thanks Mike, They always stick together make me think it's another skylark as well. :P

Title: Re: Skylark Question
Post by geoff_welch on Oct 28^th, 2005, 7:51am

Dear All

I think there is a danger of some confusion here. I was at Long Valley yesterday when this photo was taken. There are definitely 2 Northern Skylarks which stick to gether as a pair. But they have different plumage colour. The more dominant bird is a dark brown colour (as shown in the photo). The other bird is paler sandier colour, more like a European type Skylark. But they are both definitely Eurasian Skylarks from the flight, white trailing edge to the wing and particularly call note.

It is possible that a Red-throated Pipit came into the picture. But is it possible that the other bird is a juvenile Northern Skylark? I agree the photo shows characteristics that were not easy to see in the field. after your suggestion of a Japanese subspecies Northern Skylark, I looked up my photographic guide to Japanese birds. I agree the dominant bird looks like picture 1. But picture 7 shows a juvenile bird which appears to have a thinner bill.

I would appreciate comments from other observers who have seen these two birds together. Thay have been resident at Lon Valley for at least 2 weeks.

Geoff Welch - a newbie to HK birding.

Title: Re: Skylark Question
Post by 深藍 Owen on Oct 28^th, 2005, 9:26am

seems I hv to go there again and hope can take some more photo tomorrow ! Thanks Geoff lead me to these birds ;)

Title: Re: Skylark Question
Post by Kwok Jai on Oct 28^th, 2005, 9:41am

Mike

I don't think the front bird is a red throated pipit. I think it is a northern skylark too.

kwok jai

Title: Re: Skylark Question
Post by 深藍 Owen on Oct 28^th, 2005, 9:58am

a closer 100% crop photo

http://www.i-owen.com/photo/IMG_3286.jpg