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ID-FRONTIERS for September 1-8, 2001
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Subject: RFI: EuroGoldfinch
From: Tony Leukering <GreatGrayO(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 1 Sep 2001 11:12am
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Hi all:
Brian Sullivan (on San Clemente Island, CA) asked me to forward this to
ID-Frontiers. Please respond to the list or to Brian privately.
Thanx,
Tony Leukering
Brighton, CO
On 1 August, 2001 a male European Goldfinch was found by John T. Brollini
feeding with a flock of migrant Lesser Goldfinches in the weedy vegetaion
below Stone Station, one of the better migrant traps on San Clemente Island,
CA. The bird was observed by many, and photographed extensively by Brollini
throughout the course of the day. Initially, the bird was thought to be an
escaped caged bird, but further study, upon consulting a few authorities and
looking at the photos, revealed the following interesting features.
The European Goldfinch commonly depicted in North American field guides is
the nominate subspecies Carduelis carduelis carduelis. After close
inspection of the photos, it is glaringly obvious that our bird is the
subspecies C. c. paropanisi. The bird is clearly gray-headed and possesses
an enormous bill, unlike anything I've seen in North American guides. This
subspecies is migratory and, according to Sparrows and Finches (Clement et
al.), winters south to Iran.
We know the bird was not released on SCI and must have come and gone with a
flock of migrant finches. Does anyone know of any North American records for
this subspecies? Are there many subspecies of European Goldfinch commonly
kept in the US as cage birds? Is there any way this finch with distribution
in Central Asia could make it to the US west coast under its own power? Any
comments would be greatly appreciated. We do not have access to a scanner
here on SCI, but can possibly provide scans on a later date to those
interested.
Thanks
Brian Sullivan
Institute for Wildlife Studies
San Clemente Island, CA
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Subject: Color-marked birds request
From: Tony Leukering <GreatGrayO(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 1 Sep 2001 11:15am
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Hi all:
Another forward from SCI. Also, please forward to those you think might run
into these things.
Tony Leukering
Brighton, CO
PATAGIAL MARKERS ON RED-TAILED HAWKS AND COMMON RAVENS
We are conducting a study on Red-tailed Hawks and Common Ravens on San
Clemente Island, California. We are currently using colored patagial tags to
identify individuals in order to acquire information on home range,
dispersal, breeding behavior, and longevity. Red-tailed Hawks have been
fitted with yellow patagial tags numbered 00-99 in black. Common Ravens have
been fitted with white patagial tags using the same numbering system. The
island is thought to contain a closed population, and we do not expect to see
any dispersal away from the island. However, if someone does see a tagged
bird perhaps in the San Diego area or coastal southern California, please
take note of the number, color, time, and location of the sighting and send
this information to the author at HeraldPetrel(AT)aol.com
Thank you,
Brian Sullivan
Institute for Wildlife Studies
San Clemente Island, CA
619-524-9043
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Subject: Mystery Bird from Ecuador
From: David A Cahlander <dac(AT)MIRAGE.SKYPOINT.COM>
Date: 5 Sep 2001 1:04pm
I have been trying to identify one of the birds that I photgraphed in
Ecuador on a recent trip, on Jun 26, 2001. The location is Eastern
Ecuador near the Naro River. This is an open area near the river.
The photos of the bird are located at:
http://www.skypoint.com/members/dac/1750.jpg
http://www.skypoint.com/members/dac/1751.jpg
http://www.skypoint.com/members/dac/1752.jpg
I have 4 different identifications of the bird. Three of the identifications
are by experts, and they are all different.
I'll provide the identification after I hear what you folks think the
bird is.
Thanks.
--
Dave Cahlander Burnsville, MN Dakota Co. 952-894-5910
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Subject: RFI Juv. Mckay's Bunting -- Pictures
From: Michael Dossett <phainopepla(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 5 Sep 2001 3:23pm
Hi everyone,
A while back, Dave Tracy posed a question to the list
about a possible McKay's Bunting or McKay's x Snow
Bunting Hybrid seen in Barrow AK. Since my total
experience with either of these species is very small
I cannot give much comment about them. I can say that
it is an interesting bird and I know that I would be
very interested in hearing what people have to say, as
I am sure the rest of the list will as well. I have
placed the video captures to a website so that
everyone can view them.
The website URL is:
http://students.washington.edu/idaeus/birds/IDFrontiersbuntings/buntingID.htm
Michael Dossett
Bothell, Washington USA
phainopepla(AT)yahoo.com
__________________________________________________
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Subject: Translation of Cox's Sandpiper Web Pages
From: Angus Wilson <wilsoa02(AT)ENDEAVOR.MED.NYU.EDU>
Date: 7 Sep 2001 10:10pm
ID-Frontiers and other shorebird enthusiasts,
To facilitate discussion of the interesting sandpiper photographed in Ibaragi
Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan, at the end of August, Naoko Tanese has kindly
prepared an English translation of the text from the Ujihara's web site
<http://
203.174.72.114/vegae/COX/COX.html>.
Fresh juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers are appearing all over North America and it
would be interesting to hear further comments on the issues of wing projection,
size and bill shape raised by the Japanese bird.
Cheers,
Angus Wilson
New York City
********************************************************************************
http://203.174.72.114/vegae/COX/COX.html
Juvenile Cox¹s Sandpiper 25 August 2001
Web Page by Osao Ujihara and Michiaki Ujihara
<ujihara(AT)mpd.biglobe.ne.jp>
Japanese to English translation by Dr. Naoko Tanese (New York University School
of Medicine)
Shintone-machi, Ibaragi Prefecture
This individual was discovered by Mr. Hasuka, who has been surveying the area.
We accidentally ran into Mr. Hasuka that day in a neighboring town and joined
him to study the bird.
The individual was about the size of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, had a long beak
that was black to the base, body color and pattern essentially resembling a
juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper. However, there was less contrast particularly in
the coverts, the wing band (?) was relatively prominent and possessed many
features matching Cox¹s Sandpiper. The size of the mysterious sandpiper was
similar to Pectoral Sandpiper standing next to it, but could have been slightly
smaller. However, this might have had to do with the individual being a
juvenile bird looking rather slim; the overall body length gave me the
impression that they were very similar in size. My first impression was not
that of a Pectoral Sandpiper its curved black beak and face made me think it
was closer to a Dunlin or a Curlew Sandpiper. The tip of its beak looked thin
and pointed, resembling that of a Curlew Sandpiper. However, upon detailed
inspection through a telescope, the basic pattern is similar to Pectoral
Sandpiper and since the mystery bird was found hanging out with adult Pectoral
Sandpipers, I think it must be a bird closely related to Pectoral Sandpipers.
Cox¹s Sandpiper is often considered a hybrid between Pectoral and Curlew
Sandpipers. This individual clearly possessed such features, raising the
possibility that it might be a Cox¹s Sandpiper. Cox¹s Sandpipers studied in
Australia were adult birds, making it difficult to identify the present mystery
bird which is a juvenile. British Birds, Vol. 81, No. 6, June 1988 published
the world¹s only photograph of a juvenile Cox¹s Sandpiper which was discovered
in Massachusetts, USA. This photograph shows a bird with a long black beak,
coverts that are more grey and weak contrast compared to Pectoral, thus
resembling similar characteristics with the mystery bird in question. However,
the bird found in the US possessed long primaries that extended beyond the tip
of its tail, a feature that differs from our mystery bird. Since this is the
only juvenile bird that has ever been photographed, it is impossible to
conclude
whether the difference reflects individual differences within Cox¹s Sandpiper.
In addition, the mystery bird has long tertials that cover much of the
primaries. This feature and its slightly smaller body size compared to
Pectoral
Sandpipers has caused some to speculate that the mystery bird might be a hybrid
related to Long-toed Stint. According to "Shore birds", Pectoral Sandpiper is
190-230mm long, and Cox¹s Sandpiper, 190mm. If we consider any differences
between seasons, and males vs. females, it is not at all surprising that the
mystery bird appeared slightly smaller in size. It is clear that it is not the
same size as Long-toed Stints or Red-necked Stints, but similar in size to
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. I do not know whether known examples of hybrids
between
Long-toed Stints and other species exist, but I think it is more likely that
Cox¹s Sandpiper spotted in the winter months in Australia might occur in Japan.
The available information on Cox¹s Sandpipers is limited, especially the
juvenile stage, and with so many unknowns it may be impossible to draw any
conclusions about the mystery bird at the moment. It is clear that we need to
futher pursue the possibility that the bird might be Cox¹s Sandpiper. There
also exist theories that Cox¹s Sandpiper might be a hybrid between Pectoral and
Western Sandpiper, or White-rumped (?) Sandpiper.
Addendum (August 30, 2001)
Since we reported the mystery bird, many people have visited the site and many
photographs have been posted on the web. Upon careful study of these
photographs, I have noticed several pictures that show the mystery bird looking
distinctly smaller compared to the Pectoral Sandpiper in the same photo, making
me think that it must be a smaller bird than Pectoral Sandpiper. This feature
and the feature that the tertials cover most of the primaries leave open the
possibility that the bird could be a hybrid of Long-toed Stint, which possesses
similar patterns, and Curlew Sandpiper (or Dunlin), although I do not know
whether such hybrids exist. I should point out that the photographs taken
through a telescope make the bird in the background appear larger than normal
(figure from Lars Jonson 1992). Shore Birds (1986) indicates the size of
Pectoral Sandpiper to be 190-230mm and Cox¹s Sandpiper 190mm (sample size must
be small), thus they could differ by as much as 4cm, which is what we might be
seeing in the mystery bird. As seen in the front view of the bird in the photo
below, its breast is not very distinct and depending on the light, it is
difficult to identify the features, but a pattern reminiscent of that of
Pectoral Sandpiper is apparent. Adult Long-toed Stint in late summer plumage
sometimes show patterns resembling that of Pectoral Sandpiper, but I doubt this
is commonly seen in the young. Overall, based on the color and pattern, I
think
the mystery bird resembles Pectoral Sandpiper; however, its long, black beak
seems too unusual for unusal individual of Pectoral Sandpiper, leaving me with
the impression that the bird possesses certain features of Curlew Sandpiper.
On
the other hand, relative positioning of the tertials and primaries is
reminiscent of Long-toed Stint.
When I contacted Martin Reid of Texas about this individual, he commented that
it is likely to be a hybrid, quite similar in description to Cox¹s Sandpiper,
but closer to Pectoral than the general impression associated with Cox¹s
Sandpiper. He thought it could be an unusual Pectoral Sandpiper. Previously
in
the US, there was a debate concerning an unusual Pectoral Sandpipier. The bird
in Massachusetts that was thought to be Cox¹s Sandpiper is clearly a hybrid and
might have been a real Cox¹s Sandpiper.
The fact that Cox¹s Sandpiper have only been sighted in a limited region of
Australia and not elsewhere in the world makes it seem rather unusual for
[Cox¹s
Sandpiper] to show up in eastern US, but I do not know the true story. Because
it is suspected to breed in Siberia, Cox¹s Sandpiper is more likely to be
spotted in Japan than in the US. In any case, the total number of individuals
must be quite small. Martin Reid said he wanted to bring the mystery bird to
the
attention of the subscribers of ID-Frontiers (America¹s top birders¹ chat
group)
for an on-line debate. Of course I agreed to his request, but I suspect the
issue will not resolve very easily.
Addendum Sept. 5, 2001
Normally, juvenile birds of related species have short tertials and show a
considerable amount of the primaries. The only species that shows little of the
primaries is Long-toed Stint. Although the mystery bird matches features of
Cox¹s Sandpiper overall, the aforementioned feature resembles Long-toed Stint.
Therefore, I am further considering the possibility of a hybrid between Long-
toed Stint and Curlew Sandpiper (or Dunlin). However, when I consider their
geographical distribution, among the related species, Long-toed Stint is the
only species that breed further south than the rest, raising the question as to
whether [Long-toed Stint] is likely to have the opportunity to mate with the
other species. The fact that the mystery bird is in the company of Pectoral
Sandpipers has also bothered me and left me confused. I don¹t know much about
the breeding grounds but I suspect differences in the latitude will result in
different breeding environment. One might argue that birds of different
species
that breed in the same area are less likely to mate because they are sexually
farther apart based on courtship behavior, etc. But this is not to say that
Long-toed Stint is more likely to mate with other species. I should add that
sandpipers rarely mate between species and I myself do not recall seeing a
definitive hybrid. I¹ve only known that Cox¹s Sandpiper is considered a
hybrid.
Recently, Pectoral Sandpipers have been discovered breeding in areas farther
west than previously recorded, so it is possible that recent changes in the
breeding grounds of Pectorals might be responsible for the appearance of the
mystery bird. I still think this individual appears too different, but if it
is
a completely uncharacterized individual, this remains a possibility. Based on
color, pattern and size, a hybrid between Long-toed Stint and Pectoral
Sandpiper
could produce a bird similar to the mystery bird; however, the long beak and
its
facial feature with eyes positioned in slightly upper back position reminiscent
of a Dunlin makes me wonder.
In any case, this individual has to be some kind of hybrid (including Cox¹s
Sandpiper), or a very unusual individual beyond the range of normal variation.
Unfortunately, its real identity is likely to remain a mystery for a long time.
Figure legends
First two figures have no legend.
Two figures with two birds
Left: Bird in foreground is an adult Pectoral Sandpiper.
Right: Tail feathers stick out relative to wing feathers. The Pectoral
Sandpiper in the foreground shows projecting wing feathers, but apparently, it
is not uncommon to find tail feathers sticking out in the young.
Next two figures
Left (figure of single bird): The pattern of the breast is somewhat indistinct,
but pattern similarly to a Pectoral Sandpiper.
Right (two birds): Right bird is the mystery bird. The primaries project
slightly from the tertials. Left bird is adult Pectoral Sandpiper. In this
photograph, the mystery bird does not look smaller than the Pectoral Sandpiper,
but this might be an artifact of photography through a telescope.
Three-bird figure: Bird in the rear is adult Pectoral.
Next two figures have no legend.
Large photo of two birds: Left bird is the mystery bird; right bird is adult
Pectoral.
Additional Commentary
Recently, I found on the internet that although Cox¹s was declared new species
in 1982, in 1996 it was determined to be a hybrid between Pectoral and Curlew
Sandpiper based on analysis of mitochondria DNA (reported by L. Christidis, K.
Davies, M. Westerman, P. Christian and R. Schodde). Since the mystery bird
shares features of both species, especially the shape of its beak as seen in
the
comparative photos below, I think it could well be identified as a Cox¹s
Sandpiper. Curlew Sandpiper is 180-230mm in body length (Shorebirds) and it
has
a long beak, which might contribute to its smaller looking appearance than its
true size.
Two photos
Left: Pectoral Sandpiper, adult, late summer plumage
Right: Curlew Sandpiper, adult, summer to winter plumage (Aug. 29, 2001; mouth
of Tama River). Has long, pointed beak and relatively long legs. This
individual has a longer bill with more pronounced curve than average.
Photo of mystery bird
Length and shape of beak appear to be somewhere in-between the two species
shown
above. The pattern on the body is similar to juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper; the
spots on the breast are not prominent.
Another photo of mystery bird
Surprisingly, this photo and the one above give me the impression that the bird
resembles a juvenile Dunlin
**************************************
Angus Wilson
New York City
wilsoa02(AT)endeavor.med.nyu.edu
Check out the "Ocean Wanderers" bird ID web site.
http://www.best.com/~petrel/index.html
**************************************
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Subject: Re: Translation of Cox's Sandpiper Web Pages
From: Martin Reid <upupa(AT)AIRMAIL.NET>
Date: 8 Sep 2001 5:39am
Dear Angus/all,
A few comments on this fascinating bird, based upon the translation and the
photos:
Firstly, Can anyone tell me/us whether the identification of the Mass.
juvenile was based on subsequent analysis of blood/feather DNA? - I don't
recall ever hearing this, thus (please correct me if I am wrong) its
identification as a Cox's remains speculative. If this is correct, it may
be a misleading precedent to use it as a benchmark for Cox's without
emphasising this point.
Next, I feel that the primaries may still be growing on this
bird. Comparing the tips of the tail, tertials and primaries to the nearby
Pec, the only thing out of proportion is the primary (P) tip - although I
would also suggest that the tertials are not quite fully-grown. Looking at
the two images with the wing open, the lefthand one (both wings opening) is
a bit misleading, and if you count back from P1 then Ps 7 -10 must be
bunched in the blur - maybe it's just me, but the tip of this bunch looks
oddly blunt for a calidrid; on the righthand photo (with left wing partly
stretched) the outermost P looks to be shorter than the next-inner one, and
the outer 3 or 4 Ps look very similar in length - again suggesting to me
that the outer 3 or 4 Ps are not yet fully grown. While it is unusual for
juv. shorebirds to have significantly unfinished P-growth by late Aug,
surely it is not unheard-of? Presuming this bird to be a hybrid (see below)
the mutant genetics involved may lead to some abnormal molt timing.
Looking carefully at the first two images, there is a replaced first-basic
scapular on the right side, centrally in the upper row of lower (larger)
scapulars:- if you look at this feather in the larger images at the
Haruhiko Asuka link (bottom of main page), it clearly is not a Pectoral
first-basic pattern, being much more like a Dunlin or CUSA pattern and
color. For me, this removes the option of an aberrant Pec. Sand, and
pretty much confirms that it is a hybrid. Given the potential influence of
Pec or STSA genes (as, surely, one parent was one of these birds?), I would
not read too much into the pattern being slightly closer to Dunlin than
CUSA on this feather.
I would urge those holding the originals to consider re-scanning a couple
of the photos (especially the first and last of those at Asuka's page) and
zooming/cropping in on this first-basic feather, and placing it on the web
page. I would also suggest that in Asuka's bottom photo, a zoom-in on the
underside of the primary tips of the far wing might be helpful - it may
reveal enough detail to confirm (or not) whether the primaries are still
growing.
Regards,
Martin
Martin Reid
Fort Worth, Texas
upupa(AT)airmail.net
http://www.martinreid.com or http://www.cyberramp.net/~upupa
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