Re: SC Golden Plover

[Pratt, Doug]

Hi folks:

I agree with Julian that this bird looks fine for AGP.  I see lots of PGP, and this bird has a very different jizz.  The most conspicuous field mark, that has not been mentioned by all you caliper birders, is the pattern of the black in the underparts.  Even with molt under way, the white bulge at the sides of the breast and black reaching all the way up to the wings is obvious on this bitrd.  This pattern is characteristic of breeding AGP, and is NEVER seen in PGP.

Doug



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[Lee G R Evans]

Doug, Phil and co

 

At no point did I categorically state that the SC bird IS a Pacific Golden Plover just that I felt some of the features visible in the single image suggested that of fulva. I was mostly trying to once again highlight that it is probably folly to make any sort of commitment on one photograph of what is a very difficult identification species-pair. I would only be prepared to make a firm commitment to id were I to see this bird in the flesh or see an excellent suite of images detailing the salient features. Even then, knowing the complexity and variation in these two species, it might be difficult to make an accurate assessment. I fully agree with the sentiments made by Doug, Peter Pyle and Julian Hough and yes, it could very well be just an American Golden Plover.

 

We are learning time and time again just HOW DIFFICULT it is to separate both first-summer and moulting summer Pacific Golden and American Golden Plovers, with many of the characters of both species overlapping (calls, tibia length, foot projection). We have seen two very educational birds in Britain this year (both in Norfolk), both of which took a great deal of effort to sort out despite they both showed admirably and at very close range and were very well photographed (images and detail published on my Rare Bird Alert blog)

 

I am assuming that this is the best image available of this particular individual

 

Best wishes

 

Lee G R Evans
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