GAME: name that bird!

[Soukous]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

So the question is; are they the same species?

 

If they are the same species then @mvechthas it. If they are not the same species then it goes to @Galana

[mvecht]

@soukous  @Galana  It seems like the IOC still consider them to be two species although they do mention that they might be conspecific.

so I think we should declare Fred the winner

Martin, books can be misleading, as there has been a lot of name changes in the last couple of decades with a number of birds changing status and being either grouped together or separated. I had a bird in the game a few months ago where I was not aware of its renaming.

[Galana]

15 hours ago, Soukous said:

In my book, Green-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brachyura and Grey-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brevicaudata are 2 different species.

In my three different books have two different ideas.

East Africa by Fanshawe has only Grey-backed but use brachyura just to confuse us. but  both SASOL, (Birds of S.A) a later publication and Sinclair (South of the Sahara) have them split.

So what's a man to do.

That 2nd photo clearly shows the Grey head that I glimpsed in the first so no doubt as to which it is. If there are two.

And I reckon the Yanks deserve two as they can't spell Grey!

I am ambivalent on the overall decision so it is perhaps just as well it has been made for me by Michael.

Dowsett has been rambling on about this since 1993 so no hurry.

Edited April 22, 2021 by Galana
Corrected typo.

[Soukous]

11 hours ago, mvecht said:

@soukous  @Galana  It seems like the IOC still consider them to be two species although they do mention that they might be conspecific.

so I think we should declare Fred the winner

Martin, books can be misleading, as there has been a lot of name changes in the last couple of decades with a number of birds changing status and being either grouped together or separated. I had a bird in the game a few months ago where I was not aware of its renaming.

 

I'm starting to feel bad now. That is twice in a row you have been thwarted by subspecies

[Galana]

37 minutes ago, Soukous said:

I'm starting to feel bad now.

Me too. Although I had never doubted Green and Grey are full species and have yet to add Green to my Life list.

Let's give him an easy ride with this full species (as far as I know no picky laboratory has decided the toe nails are different lengths in different terrain.)

[Soukous]

I can only find one that fits, but as Stevenson/Fanshawe says that 2 races occur I must have the wrong 'un.

[mvecht]

I will stick my neck out and say that Galana`s law will work here. I also think the scientific name is quite accurate.

I will wait a little posting a reply hoping that other people will be able to join the game

[Galana]

6 hours ago, Soukous said:

Stevenson/Fanshawe says that 2 races occur I must have the wrong 'un.

Well don't look at Sinclair's "Birds South of the Sahara" then or you will need counselling.

[Soukous]

5 minutes ago, Galana said:

Well don't look at Sinclair's "Birds South of the Sahara" then or you will need counselling.

 

what more counselling 

[Soukous]

6 hours ago, mvecht said:

I also think the scientific name is quite accurate.

 

Then we could be thinking of the same species 

[Soukous]

come on @mvechtI think you'd better take it

[mvecht]

OK, I suggest Black-necked Weaver (Ploceus nigricollis). 

[Soukous]

35 minutes ago, mvecht said:

OK, I suggest Black-necked Weaver (Ploceus nigricollis). 

 

That's what I would have suggested too. 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Soukous said:

That's what I would have suggested too. 

And you both would have been correct.

Taken sitting outside my small cabin at Bwindi Forest Lodge, Buhoma.

 

[mvecht]

I am running out of good candidates but try this one

[Soukous]

Yellow-breasted Apalis ???

[mvecht]

@SoukousSpot on. Over to you.

[Galana]

I take an afternoon off and miss one. Well done @Soukous

 

Good to see Galana's Law holding up.

Edited April 23, 2021 by Galana
added text.

[Soukous]

15 hours ago, mvecht said:

@SoukousSpot on. Over to you.

 

It will take a while for the shock  of getting 4 in a row correct, but I'll try and dig up a worthy contender.

[Soukous]

Try this one 

 

[Galana]

Well now.Some iD pointers hidden whilst the Field Guides make much of the belly and face.

So I am stuck with hunch and minor details.

Not 'brown enough' to be in your stamping grounds and Orange-breasted so I am looking in East Africa. Two have tell tale bluey green rumps and upper tails and I don't think you have been far enough west yet for Red-chested.

Beautiful the bird undoubtedly is but I don't think this is the species as the tail is not quite long enough.

That leaves me with Black-bellied Sunbird as favourite to pick this time.

[Soukous]

46 minutes ago, Galana said:

That leaves me with Black-bellied Sunbird as favourite to pick this time.

 

'fraid not 

 

[Galana]

Well that puts the Beautiful Sunbird firmly (and literally) in the frame.

[Soukous]

56 minutes ago, Galana said:

Well that puts the Beautiful Sunbird firmly (and literally) in the frame.

 

There you go, Galana's Law at it's most fundamental

It is indeed a Beautiful Sunbird. 

 

Well done, I thought the colour of the plumage in that shot might mislead you 

 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Soukous said:

I thought the colour of the plumage in that shot might mislead you 

Not really. Blue and green vary so much in the sunlight I was OK with that. It was the streamer length that misled. It must have had a haircut. Melanogastra so Mara-Tsavo south into TZ?