Continuing the discussion on Yellow Wagtails

on 21st January 2022
The earlier post on the Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava) can be found HERE.
James Eaton was kind enough to respond and wrote “Tschutschensis – such a fine supercilium. Taivana would be much broader. Taivana is the rarest of three in the Peninsular too. Eastern can be easily separated from Western on the call – much more strident. I would doubt thunbergi makes it here regularly, especially given the lack of confirmation from elsewhere in Southeast Asia and the Andamans”
According to Alström et al 2003, as reported in Bot et al 2014 “Taivana has a broad supercilium, which reaches the bill, is often noticeable square-ended and is broad along its entire length, whereas tschutschensis often has a fine supercilium, not reaching the base of the bill and ending behind the eye in a point.”
The above composite of different birds at different times, is based on supercilium and focusing on tschutschensis and taivana.
The second composite above show dark headed birds and possible thunbergi or macronyx or plexa; especially the top 2 birds. Bottom 2 have some supercilium and need to be more cautious.

Finally another nice confiding tschutschensis as shown above and below.

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr) – Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Location: Malim Nawar, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Ex-mining pools, fish farming, wetlands
Date: 2nd November 2018
Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD, handheld

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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