Black-eared Wheatear, Malta (1 Viewer)

[Gladiator96]

Photographed last April. Struck me as unusually dark in the field (dark crown, nape, and mantle).

Perhaps it could be of the rarer western subspecies which should have more ochre according to collins.

I would appreciate any comments.

Thanks :t:

 

[lou salomon]

looks like a western indeed, probably a 2cy. didn't know it was rarer than eastern BEW on malta!

 

[AlinoVegano]

Agree on hispanica

 

[Richard Prior]

Birdinginmalta.com says both types occur but eastern is the commoner, it mentions one breeding record of Eastern from 1982.

 

[Gladiator96]

Yes indeed Eastern is much commoner. Many thanks all for your comments

 

[Brian J Small]

This is Eastern - melanoleuca - not buff or ochre enough for hispanica, and too much black on the 'face'.

B

 

[AlinoVegano]

This is Eastern - melanoleuca - not buff or ochre enough for hispanica, and too much black on the 'face'.

B

I've seen seemingly identical birds in Spain, either there's something I miss, or melanoleuca is overlooked in Spain.

 

[lou salomon]

sandy tone on mantle looks quite off for melanoleuca..

 

[Brian J Small]

sandy tone on mantle looks quite off for melanoleuca..

You see I just don't get this as sandy.

This is 2cy hispanica - http://www.gobirding.eu/Images/Pass...-eared Wheatear, Lomaza, 15-Jun-09 (A3) L.JPG

B

 

[Gladiator96]

This paper (https://www.dutchbirding.nl/journal/pdf/DB_2003_25_2.pdf) states that some atypical melanoleuca may have a deep ochre crown, mantle and nape and therefore colouration of the upperparts should not be considered alone.

I have attached 2 crops of the same photos. The black seems to extend above the bill and the eye. Also the primary projection seems rather long to me (but this may be subjective). I'm thinking this may be one such atypical melanoleuca.

 

[lou salomon]

well, could be, on balance. i've seen some 2cy melanoleuca all of which had dirty grey rather than a buff tone on the pale hindneck and mantle area. but the crops show it isn't really a warm tone, indeed. black on throat is extended as well but some hispanica can be virtually identic in that respect.

 

[AlinoVegano]

This is a bird with black above eye and bill, melanoleuca.

While this one take in Spain has same black mask, imo, than op bird.

 

[Gladiator96]

This is a bird with black above eye and bill, melanoleuca.

While this one take in Spain has same black mask, imo, than op bird.

Looks about right. What do you think about the primary projection?

 

[AlinoVegano]

Looks about right. What do you think about the primary projection?

I see them shortish, perfect for hispanica. However, I'm not sure I want to argue against Brian Small who is a far more knowledgeable birder than I'm. I will keep following the thread to see if we can reach a consensus.