Wader Wednesday ID CHALLENGE 5 August 2020: P Plate by Karen Dick
This elegant bird has a tern-like flight and is quite hard to misidentify. Although a shorebird, it is quite happy on grassy plains in Central and Northern Australia.
For a more advanced challenge, can you identify and give reasons for the age of this individual.
Solution:
This bird is an adult Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella in breeding plumage, as described by some of the contributors in the challenge. The short black-tipped red bill, the extra-long outer primary flight feathers and the plumage colour with the plain underparts are all features for breeding plumage. An immature bird would have a more mottled breast. The fact that the top of the bill looks pale is unfortunately down to overexposure in the photograph and not real.
These birds with their long legs and elegant flight are far removed from most people’s perception of waders and they are seen in a variety of inland locations, including short, grassy paddocks, airstrips and inland dams and mudflats. They are common through the interior of mainland Australia.
Comments:
Jannette Manins 😊This is a Shorebird of Inland lakes, sewage ponds and mud flats. It’s an adult in breeding plumage as it has plain sandy-rufous plumage above, Black lores, outermost primaries elongated and narrow and a vivid red base to the bill. I’ve seen many, in Qld, WA, VIC, NT.
Jannette Manins: Here’s an immature AP
Women Birders Australia 