Another niloticus in Britain

[stenura]

Hi all
Just saw photos of a Woodchat Shrike in the Britain stop press gallery. Seems to be a niloticus. 2nd for Britain?
/Magnus

[Harry Hussey]

Hi Magnus,
Having just seen the pics this evening, but not being aware of your post here, I just posted something to the same effect on another forum. Owing to the large-looking primary patch, advanced moult (with some incipient adult-type features already visible) and the apparently relatively thin bill, it does seem rather good for niloticus to me.
I have never seen this taxon, but, having been one of a group of birders responsible for the racial assignation of a Woodchat Shrike locally as a badius in 2002, I did read up on the various taxa at the time. I can recall a previous candidate alright, but was unware of it having been formally accepted as niloticus as yet? Also, does anyone know if variation in moult in the nominate could produce birds similar to this one (though, admittedly, the size of the primary patch alone would presumably rule out any nominate or rutilans)?
Regards,
Harry

[stenura]

Hi Harry! The record I was referring to was the 2003 bird on Shetland. I don't know if it's formally accepted yet.
I haven't found any good reference concerning the limits of the variation in the post-juvenile moult of senator, but so far I have failed to find any senator coming close to the Shetland-bird-type. The bird from Cleaveland seems less advanced, but still more so than an average senator. And as you say, the primary patch seems large enough. More photos (prefeably showing a spread wing) would be good, and why not catch it to establish biometrics and tail pattern?
/Magnus

[macrourus]

Which photos you refer ?? Wing patch is rather variable, in eastern population of senator may be quite big, sometimes very close to nyloticus... you should refer to wing shape, wing patch, white at tail base, moult, bill structure and ALL the characters...
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[stenura]

Hi macrourus! The photos I was referring to are rather old now, and you have to scroll many pages back to find them. Photos of the same bird can also be seen at the photographers own home page. One of the best shots is found here: http://www.aviabird.net/birding/woodchat14.htm . The photos doesn't show tail pattern (relevant in first generation of rectricies?), and primary patch is hard to measure. That's why I suggested that the bird should be caught... Despite the lack of information in the images, I still think it is good candidate for niloticus. As I have already said I find the primary patch wide enough (and purer white than most senator), the bill a trifle weaker than average and the post juvenile moult seem slightly more advanced than in average senator (although admittedly less so than most niloticus). Indicative - yes, but in my view the charachters seem to point in the same direction.

Cheers
/Magnus Hellström

[JanJ]

Hello Andrea and Magnus.
In what way doe´s wingformula differ between senator and niloticus? Some overlap in the size of the primary patch apparently.

Also came to think of this swedish bird - some good images from Nov.

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=19020

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=19019

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=19071

http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures/birds_user_uploads/19055_UU_5123_torn.jpg

JanJ

[stenura]

Thanks Jan for pointing this out! Incorrect use of words, and I've corrected my post above. /MH

[macrourus]

I meant wing shape, because in some birds the primary projection is longer than typical senator... but not proven so leave it apart... :-)

Tail pattern visible and useful once moulted....
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