As the weather continues with the cold fronts in the last few weeks before Christmas, the birds continue to dwindle. However, those that we did have turned out to some real treats!
First up was a gorgeous male White-tailed Robin! This a scarce winter visitor, and just our 3rd ever caught by the HKBWS team! The males are unmistakable from the females, thanks to the dark blue in the plumage. However, as usual, we should begin by ageing the bird. White-tailed Robins follow the same moult pattern as other Robins; adults Summer Complete, juveniles summer partial. This means we are once again looking for moult limits to determine the young birds, usually within the Greater Coverts. This can indeed be seen in the bird above, meaning that this is a 2nd calendar male White-tailed Robin!
Next up we had a nice little Pallas’ Leaf Warbler! Though these birds can be difficult to spot among the leafy canopies, and difficult to distinguish from other leaf warbler species, their calls, rising in pitch, are rather unmistakeable. This species is notoriously difficult to age, with careful examination of the wing, tail and undertail covert feathers necessary to differentiate the adult and juvenile feathers.
Our last notable species is one similar to the last, but larger, and far more elusive- the Hartert’s Leaf Warbler! This could be mistaken for a Pallas’, but they lack the yellow rump of the Pallas’, as well as showing much less contrast in the crown stripe. For this species, we are lacking information on their moult strategies, although we expect something similar to that of the Pallas’. However, species-specific experience is essential to ensure accurate conclusions, so we hope these photos will be helpful for future reference.
Daily Totals
| Species | Original | Recapture |
| Chestnut Bulbul | 5 | 0 |
| Common Tailorbird | 1 | 1 |
| Grey-backed Thrush | 4 | 0 |
| Hartert’s Leaf Warbler | 1 | 0 |
| Pallas’s Leaf Warbler | 1 | 1 |
| Red-billed Leiothrix | 0 | 1 |
| Red-flanked Bluetail | 6 | 2 |
| Rufous-capped Babbler | 1 | 0 |
| Silver-eared Mesia | 1 | 0 |
| White-tailed Robin | 1 | 0 |
*Please note that all wild birds, their nests, and eggs are highly protected (under Wild Animals Protection Ordinate, Cap. 170) in Hong Kong. It is an offence to wilfully disturb, take, remove, or injure wild birds or their nests/eggs. The actions described here were undertaken by trained professionals holding the necessary licenses and permits issued by the AFCD.*
