Shorebird ID request - immature VO

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

Shorebird ID request - immature VO

Postby Jim Kirker » Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:26 pm

Walking with rapid footsteps and pauses along the tideline by the Auckland NW motorway this afternoon, with two VOs, about two hours after full tide. I thought it must be a Pacific plover but the bill looks too long and too wide and yellow at the base.
P1010737.JPG
Shorebird Auckland upper harbour 11/12/17
P1010737.JPG (618.6 KiB) Viewed 1609 times
P1010731 (2).JPG
Shorebird Auckland upper harbour 11/12/17
P1010731 (2).JPG (324.84 KiB) Viewed 1609 times
P1010739 (2).JPG
Shorebird Auckland upper harbour 11/12/17
P1010739 (2).JPG (190.31 KiB) Viewed 1609 times
Last edited by Jim Kirker on Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Colin Miskelly
Posts: 912
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:31 pm

Re: Shorebird ID request

Postby Colin Miskelly » Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:35 pm

Hi Jim
It is the nearly fully-feathered chick of the variable oystercatcher pair.
Cheers
Colin
Clinton9
Posts: 1008
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:22 pm

Re: Shorebird ID request

Postby Clinton9 » Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:41 pm

A family of Variable oystercatchers.
Jim Kirker
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:54 pm

Re: Shorebird ID request

Postby Jim Kirker » Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:58 pm

Thanks Colin and Clinton, I actually wrote a note "? young VO" because of the down but the bill seemed wrong and I was hoping for something really rare. The adults played injured and flew at me until I backed off, which would fit.

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