ML463010981

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Only the outer 3 rectrices (r4-r6) showed white when the bird fanned its tail. The outermost tail feathers had dark edges to the anterior vanes, and rectrix 4 in particular had a thick dark and barred outer edge, and limited amount of white framed by bold dark barring in the posterior vane. Lilianae would have shown 4 outermost tail feathers nearly all white. The head pattern of this bird revealed dusky and densely mottled cheeks that were significantly darker than the white (or very pale buff) superciliary stripes. The crown and postocular stripes were brown with noticeable darker streaking, not solid dark as tends to be the case in birds of the “Eastern” Meadowlark complex. Eastern and “Lilian’s” also tend to show whitish cheeks, not dark cheeks as in this bird. This bird showed very little yellow, limited to the belly region, and difficult to see. The flanks were very pale, with brownish spotting. The chest V was incomplete or worn, appearing streaky. The upperparts were a streaky brown-gray, with no noticeable contrasting dark centers to individual feathers as would be expected of Eastern Meadowlarks. The uppertail coverts and the central tail feathers were also rather pale or drab gray brown with no contrasting patterning. The tertials also appeared relatively dull with little contrasting patterning.

Technical information

Dimensions

4032 pixels x 3024 pixels

Original file size

2.11 MB