Paradise Shelduck id help please.

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
Jim Kirker
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:54 pm

Paradise Shelduck id help please.

Postby Jim Kirker » Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:12 pm

Is the bird on the right an adult male in eclipse plumage or an immature male ? They called the typical male and female calls.
P1060548 (2).JPG
Paradise Shelducks, Tahuna Torea, Auckland 29/07/18
P1060548 (2).JPG (395.6 KiB) Viewed 1793 times
Ian Southey
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Paradise Shelduck id help please.

Postby Ian Southey » Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:35 pm

Jim

If you are right about the calls you have found an interesting partially white male. I think it is too late for it to be a juvenile female and the call would be different. There is a different eclipse plumage but you have to look hard to notice it.

Ian
Jim Kirker
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:54 pm

Re: Paradise Shelduck id help please.

Postby Jim Kirker » Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:40 pm

Ian,

I recorded the calls and listened again at home - male and female. So would it be a partially white leucistic male ?

Jim
Clinton9
Posts: 1008
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:22 pm

Re: Paradise Shelduck id help please.

Postby Clinton9 » Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:36 pm

Pied adult male and his normal wife.

Pure white wing coverts told me the male is adult male, as immatures have grey colours on secondary coverts.

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