While I was photographing a mixed group of Red-capped Plovers and Red-necked Stints on a sand-bank at the Mullens roost the other day I noticed this bird with unusual plumage. It looks to me like a Red-capped Plover except for the red down its front. The water in the bay is deeply stained with the tannin from the fresh water that has been flowing into the bay from all the rain we have been having. I thought at first that the color on this bird might be stain but it seems unlikely with such a clear line of marking under the throat to the belly. Also none of the other Red-capped Plovers showed any similar markings - and I estimate approx. 30 other birds with this one.
I took a number of photos of this bird after I noticed the marking. Sorry that the photos are not as sharp as they should be - I was having trouble with the auto focus on the lens and was trying to use the manual focus.
Does anyone have any idea why there is this red down the front of the bird. I have never seen one like this before. (All photos enlarge when clicked on.)
Added Info! After several very helpful pieces of information from various readers the consensus opinion is that this is a Red-capped Plover with aberrant plumage. Such differences in plumage can occur and there are records in HANZAB of aberrant plumage in Red-capped Plovers which sound quite similar to the bird which I photographed. Thanks especially to Jill Dening for helping with all this.
Happy New Year, mick!
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the plumage. As you say, if it is staining, it's very neat. (Sorry, I haven't any answers!)
Hi Snail, hope the New Year is a good one for you too.
ReplyDeleteA friend has posted a link to the post and pics on Birding-Aus so it will be interesting to see if anyone has any suggestions/answers.
Double-banded plover? That's what it seems like to me from this http://www.shorebirds.org.au/pdfs/Shorebird-identification-tips.pdf
ReplyDeleteCan't be a double-banded with that large brown area under the eye.
Ooops I mean't "Can't be a red capped with that large brown area under the eye.
ReplyDeleteHi Tony, DB Plovers are quite common up here and that bird does not seem to be either the right size or shape.
ReplyDeleteThese are such lovely birds! That one looks so cute looking at you. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow did you go with this Mick, were you able to work out the species?
ReplyDeletewonderful bird and I really like the photos!
ReplyDeleteCool find and great pictures. Really adorable shorebird, I don't know these guys, but I like 'em!
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