Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
- RussCannings
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Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
If it is a House Sparrow it would be odd that it lacks a dark throat and pale forehead. Agree that Passer-type sparrow could fit the vibe. Still leading odd swallow... new species?
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Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
Some sort of cagebird, perhaps?
- Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
I still don't think this bird is something common, and an aberrant individual of a common species seems no more likely than a vagrant.
The bird is in open shade as the sun is behind the building and the sky is clear. This means the light is very low contrast and there are no harsh shadows (note lack of shadow under the light fitting).
Two of the photos are taken from the same place, so easy to compare directly as the bird moves. I aligned and animated them. See below.
The originals are a bit under exposed and the open shade causes a blue cast, so I have set the white point so it is now more like how we would see it (subconsciously correcting the cast).
I was thinking Brent was on to something in that there does appear to be something semi-transparent where he indicated, but now I'm not sure that it is not changing shape as the bird moves. It definitely changes tone.
Notice the tip of the tail which becomes visible, and seems quite long.
I think the white chin and dark breast band/wing are real, and the crown has a rufous hint or grey.
The bird is in open shade as the sun is behind the building and the sky is clear. This means the light is very low contrast and there are no harsh shadows (note lack of shadow under the light fitting).
Two of the photos are taken from the same place, so easy to compare directly as the bird moves. I aligned and animated them. See below.
The originals are a bit under exposed and the open shade causes a blue cast, so I have set the white point so it is now more like how we would see it (subconsciously correcting the cast).
I was thinking Brent was on to something in that there does appear to be something semi-transparent where he indicated, but now I'm not sure that it is not changing shape as the bird moves. It definitely changes tone.
Notice the tip of the tail which becomes visible, and seems quite long.
I think the white chin and dark breast band/wing are real, and the crown has a rufous hint or grey.
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- Location: Christchurch
Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
Hey those special effects are cool!!
- Steve Wood
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Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
When you see the bird move like this it does highlight the length of the tail. Fantail sp. ?
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Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
Yes, my reaction also was 'fantail'. The nearest would seem to be Rhipidura rufiventris obiensis but this lacks the white forehead shown by the Hornby bird. Also rather a long way off range - Distribution: Obi I and Bisa I (S of Halmahera), in N Moluccas.
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Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
When I first saw the photos my immediate thought was White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis) which I am very familiar with. Wishful thinking though!!
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Richard Hurt
Richard Hurt
- RussCannings
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Re: Martin?, Hornby, Christchurch
My feeling continue to be in the swallow camp. The straight angle from the back to the apparent tail tip is consistent with swallow perching posture whereas we all know most fantails hold their tails at a slightly different angle to the wing, and are usually quite active even when perched. Furthermore, the primary projection if this bird appears (to me) to be quite long. I think that bump at the lower tip of the bird is the left wing curving in, and possibly longer than the tail. I'm not sure how a fantail could show this odd shape near the base of the tail (which would seem short anyway for a Fantail?).