tags: Alpine Chat, Hill Chat, Moorland Chat, Cercomela sordida, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Alpine Chat (also known as the Hill Chat or Moorland Chat), Cercomela sordida, photographed at 14000 feet elevation on Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 22 August 2007 [larger view].
Nikon D2X, Nikon 70-200 lens at 200. ISO 400, 1/250, f/3.5.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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I'm probably off base but I think this bird could be a Moorland (or Alpine or Hill) Chat, Cercomela sordida. It seems to have a wheatear (Oenanthe)-like tail pattern, dark in the center with white on the outer part, is grayish, and lives at high altitudes in East Africa. My one field guide covering the region (and all of Africa to boot, Sinclair & Ryan's Birds of Africa south of the Sahara), shows this species with a dark eye, but the bird in the photo has something of a light iris.
Rob -- first, I have no idea what this is. Second, I think your idea is better than you thought. I don't see a light iris on this bird. On the larger view, the pale color on the bottom part of the eye is pretty clearly the eye-ring, and the top part of the eye looks pale because of a highlight.
Psweet, you're right, the light part is the eye-ring.
Grrlscientist, have you forgotten about identifying this one?
Yikes! sorry about this. the ID is late, but thanks for the reminder.