Which wheatear?

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Seen four days ago in Petra, Jordan.

Thanks.

Jacqueline

[Joe stockwell]

i will hazzard a guess at a mourning wheatear

[birdboybowley]

I'd prob go for Mourning too...but can't completely rule out Finsch's as we can't see the back colour (black or white?)

[ampelinus]

Hi Jacqueline, Your Wheatear is a Mourning, not Finsch's, if you look really closely you can make out a peachy wash on the undertail coverts. A

[Colin Key]

.....if you look really closely you can make out a peachy wash on the undertail coverts. A

Tough call on the basis of this photo; having looked "really closely" at an enlargement I don't think that you can rule out colour reflection from the rock as the cause of the apparent peachy wash.

Any other photos Jacqueline?

Colin

[ampelinus]

Hi Colin, with regards to your comments about colour reflection from the rocks i see your piont and would concede that it's probably not possible to say wether it's plumage colour or reflected from the rocks. However if you look at the left wing, which is drooping, it looks to long for Finsch's. If you draw an imaginary line between the wing tip and where the wing tip would fall onto the tail,i think it would project well into the black central tail feathers.I know this is hardly scientific,but i do feel that it is a fair comment.Also if you look at the right wing you can make out a thin white line in the outer primaries just below the primary coverts. Both features of Mourning.By the way Colin i didn't intend to come accross as patronizing. A

[Colin Key]

By the way Colin i didn't intend to come accross as patronizing. A

You didn't, and I did not take your comments that way!! I only quoted your "really close look" comment because that is precisely what I did with the image in Photoshop.

I still would not "put money on it" on the basis of this photo.

Colin :smile::beer:

[ampelinus]

Colin, no i wouldn't put money on it either but still think Mourning. Pleased i didn't offend you. Just for the record i am very rusty with my i.d. skills as i've been out of the game for over 12 years due to personal health problems.This computer stuff is all knew to me as well. Boy things have moved on pretty dam fast. Cheers Colin, A