From: Nate Dias <offshorebirder@gmail.com>
Date: 2017-06-21 20:59
Subject: Re: [KENYABIRDSNET] Variable / Purple Indigobird in the Trans Mara (photos) [3 Attachments]
Sorry for the poor wording in my original email Michael.

By "Variable / Purple" - I was meaning to say that I was having a hard time distinguishing between Variable and Purple based on the details in the photos (kind of a cloudy day).  And I should have gone on to say "without hearing it vocalize".

In terms of the bare parts - if you think it's a pale-legged Village Indigobird, then I'm starting to feel guilty for wasting Kenyabirdsnet's time...

Good birding,

Nate

On Wed, Jun 21, 2017 at 8:40 PM, Michael Mills (Birds Angola) <birdsangola@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Nate

Indigobird identification is not especially straight forward and you really need to consider vocal mimicry, bare parts colouration and plumage gloss colour and intensity to make an accurate identification.

Firstly, if I'm not mistaken, Variable/Dusky Indigobird and Purple Indigobird are different species.

Based on work I've done in South Africa, it certainly isn't Purple Indigobird (which has a dull purple gloss), and I don't believe it's Dusky Indigobird either (which has a weak dark blue gloss). Based on gloss intensity alone I would suggest Village Indigobird. I agree that the legs would be expected to be brighter for Village Indigobird, but at least the bill is paler than the legs. I've only seen Wilson's Indigobird once, but I don't think the gloss or leg colour match it.

Kind regards
Michael


On 2017/06/22 07:06, Nate Dias offshorebirder@gmail.com [kenyabirdsnet] wrote:
 

I just received some photos Roger Smith took of a roadside Indigobird
we saw with Ben Mugambi in the Trans Mara back in late January when
things were so dry. It looks to be Variable / Purple Indigobird but
I would welcome correction by anyone better versed in Indigobird
identification.

I'm also wondering if the hue is blue enough to call it a Variable
Indigobird, though I know how subjective things like blue sheen can
be...

Unfortunately my camera was packed away at the time. Roger's was too
for the Bar-breasted Firefinch we saw just before the Indigobird.
But he scrambled to unpack his camera just in time for the second
find.

Attached are a few cropped photos.

Good birding,

Nate

PS
The (male) Bar-breasted Firefinch had a striking pattern around the
undertail coverts. Sort of cream-coloured undertail coverts with a
thin darker border then the light grey/brown of the bird's vent and
flanks. I will post something about them soon, as I am wondering if
their different appearance from Red-billed Firefinch is a valid field
mark for separating the two species.

-- 
------------------------------------------------
Michael Mills
BIRDS ANGOLA
www.birdsangola.org