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 >>  Male or female thrush?
        
(Message started by: cywong on Apr 18^th, 2006, 9:15pm)

Title: Male or female thrush?
Post by cywong on Apr 18^th, 2006, 9:15pm

Is this a male or female Grey- backed Thrush? Or a Juvenile male?
Would experienced birdwatchers please give advice?

HKU 01/04/06
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/cywong/2c6d1c3d.jpg

Title: Re: Male or female thrush?
Post by miket on Apr 18^th, 2006, 10:47pm

I don't have the ageing expertise that ringers have, but for me this is a first winter male Grey-backed Thrush, with some retained juvenile (I think that'd be accurate) median coverts at least - the four (or five?) small feathers in the wing with pale tips.

As a plumage stage term "juvenile" strictly speaking refers, I believe, to the first entire normal (non-downy) feathers that the bird gets - this bird has clearly moved on from that so we can't call it a juvenile.

Mike Turnbull

Title: Re: Male or female thrush?
Post by cywong on Apr 19^th, 2006, 11:51pm

Thanks to Mr. Turnbull's detailed explanation.

Title: Re: Male or female thrush?
Post by Paul Leader on Apr 24^th, 2006, 12:01am

The retained coverts are greater coverts not median coverts which would the next row of feathers up towards the bend of the wing - other than that I agree, a first winter male.