Memorandum to:         The Director of Birds Australia

 

From:                           Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

 

Date:                            28th December 2006

 

 

Voting Members:         Danny Rogers                Mike Carter

Glen Holmes                 John Hatch

                                    Tony Palliser                 Andrew Silcocks

                                    Jamie Matthew              Rohan Clarke

                       

Cc.                                          

 

 

Submission No 464: White Wagtail Motacilla alba Mallacoota, VIC., 2nd – 3rd May 2005. Submitted by Bob Semmens.

 

Verdict: Accepted

 

 

This case involves the sighting of an adult bird on a sand island (approx 350m x 150m) formed inside Mallacoota Inlet entrance on the 2nd May 2005 followed by additional sightings the following day.

 

The submission describes a bird that was clearly a Motacilla Wagtail, with white face (lacking black eye-stripe), black bill, legs, crown, nape and upperparts, white underparts with black breast shield, white “shoulders” (presumably a reference to larger wing coverts looking white on folded wing?), and a tail described as black. The bird was reasonably distant (75m) but was watched for a long period by several observers using telescopes. It was not photographed.

 

All the details provided are consistent with Motacilla alba leucopsis, a striking wagtail difficult to confuse with anything else. The black tail (no mention of white outer feathers) is not right for this race, or any other race of White Wagtail, but could be explained by moult or the distant views.

 

Members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance. This is the 9th record of this species to be accepted by BARC.

 

 

References and Bibliography:

 

·       Alstrom, P., Mild, K. & Zetterstrom, B. (2003), Pipits & Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America, Christopher Helm, London. Carter, M. et al. (1995), ‘White Wagtails Motacilla alba in Victoria’, Australian Birdwatcher 16: 21-33.

·       Howell, S.N.G. (1990), Identification of White & Black-backed Wagtails in Alternate Plumage’, Western Birds 21: 41-49.

·       Morlan, J. (1981), ‘Status & Identification of forms of the White Wagtail in Western North America’, Continental Birdlife 2: 37-50.

·       Roberson, D., (1982), ‘Black-backed Wagtail Motacilla lugens / White Wagtail M alba’, Birding 15: 127-129.

·       Sibley, D.A. & Howell, S.N.G., (1998), ‘Identification of White and Black-backed Wagtails in Basic Plumage’, Western Birds, 29: 180-198



 

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee