Striated? Swallow, Chongqing, China. Request for opinions on whether this is a Striated Swallow or a Red-rumped Swallow. (1 Viewer)

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

 

[wheatearlp]

Is it a recently taken picture?

 

[Mike Earp]

Is it a recently taken picture?

 

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

View attachment 1564479

Yes yesterday 13 March 2024

 

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

Is it a recently taken picture?

Yes, yesterday

 

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

I note that Identification - Striated Swallow - Cecropis striolata - Birds of the World mentions "C. s. stanfordi has broader streaks on underparts than japonica and a rather conspicuous black thigh patch, but the streaks of C. s. mayri are similarly narrow, and the identification of the latter rests on the presence of a black thigh patch (not always obvious, and occasionally absent), a subtly darker rufous face, and subtle size differences (4, 5)."

My image appears to show what appear to be black thigh patches (but I have not seen any photographic documentation online to corroborate this) which is why I thought the group might be able to comment.

 

[njlarsen]

No other angles, even if not perfectly sharp?
Niels

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

I note that Identification - Striated Swallow - Cecropis striolata - Birds of the World mentions "C. s. stanfordi has broader streaks on underparts than japonica and a rather conspicuous black thigh patch, but the streaks of C. s. mayri are similarly narrow, and the identification of the latter rests on the presence of a black thigh patch (not always obvious, and occasionally absent), a subtly darker rufous face, and subtle size differences (4, 5)."

My image appears to show what appear to be black thigh patches (but I have not seen any photographic documentation online to corroborate this) which is why I thought the group might be able to comment.

Bob, the 'black thigh patches' which you refer to are merely exposed dark feather bases and consequently of no significance. In Striated, when present, the dark patches are in a different position, at the sides of the lower belly ML137603111 - Striated Swallow - Macaulay Library

Grahame

 

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

No other angles, even if not perfectly sharp?
Niels

Hello Niels, I found this one which is out of focus but shows a Barn Swallow for size comparison.

 

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

Bob, the 'black thigh patches' which you refer to are merely exposed dark feather bases and consequently of no significance. In Striated, when present, the dark patches are in a different position, at the sides of the lower belly ML137603111 - Striated Swallow - Macaulay Library

Grahame

Thanks Grahame, that is useful to know.

 

[njlarsen]

Hello Niels, I found this one which is out of focus but shows a Barn Swallow for size comparison.

Per the drawing in the East Asia book on my shelf, this is more in agreement with Red-rumped due to the extent of rufous around the collar area. However, I am not an expert and someone else might shoot this down.
Niels

 

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

Per the drawing in the East Asia book on my shelf, this is more in agreement with Red-rumped due to the extent of rufous around the collar area. However, I am not an expert and someone else might shoot this down.
Niels

Thank you Nils, obviously the most likely taxon for this locality is Red-rumped whereas this is outside of the normal range for Striated. However I have seen a number of Swallows in Chongqing over the years that may be Striated suspects.

The Bird below does seem to resemble my bird pretty closely, but I also am not one of the Swallow cognoscenti and I welcome any further comments. I will also try and obtain better photos of the birds in question.

https://ebird.org/species/strswa2?__hstc=264660688.27da6df088bf45cc343d9005b27a4c8c.1710496677570.1710496677570.1710496677570.1&__hssc=264660688.3.1710496677570&__hsfp=2673741179&_gl=1*12jr7q3*_ga*ODM0ODc2OTE2LjE3MTA0OTY2NzI.*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTcxMDQ5NjY3Mi4xLjEuMTcxMDQ5NzE5Ny42MC4wLjA.&_ga=2.185181857.960472128.1710496672-834876916.1710496672

 

[njlarsen]

It looks like your bird has a slight rufous wash on the breast. I do not see that on any of the striated images in Ebird, but on some of the images in Red-rumped:

https://ebird.org/species/rerswa1

Niels

 

[njlarsen]

Thank you Nils, obviously the most likely taxon for this locality is Red-rumped whereas this is outside of the normal range for Striated. However I have seen a number of Swallows in Chongqing over the years that may be Striated suspects.

The Bird below does seem to resemble my bird pretty closely, but I also am not one of the Swallow cognoscenti and I welcome any further comments. I will also try and obtain better photos of the birds in question.

https://ebird.org/species/strswa2?__hstc=264660688.27da6df088bf45cc343d9005b27a4c8c.1710496677570.1710496677570.1710496677570.1&__hssc=264660688.3.1710496677570&__hsfp=2673741179&_gl=1*12jr7q3*_ga*ODM0ODc2OTE2LjE3MTA0OTY2NzI.*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTcxMDQ5NjY3Mi4xLjEuMTcxMDQ5NzE5Ny42MC4wLjA.&_ga=2.185181857.960472128.1710496672-834876916.1710496672

your link does not take me to a specific image, just to the ebird page for the species. To make a specific link, click the lower right corner where it says Macaulay Library ML###### - then take the address of that page.
Niels

 

[Iwan (Bob) Roberts]

your link does not take me to a specific image, just to the ebird page for the species. To make a specific link, click the lower right corner where it says Macaulay Library ML###### - then take the address of that page.
Niels

Ah, sorry about that...

ML137603091 - Striated Swallow - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML137603091; © Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok; Chiang Rai, Thailand

macaulaylibrary.org