tags: Bar-shouldered Dove, Geopelia humeralis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Bar-shouldered Dove, Geopelia humeralis, photographed at Cooya Beach, Queensland, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Steve Duncan, 25 August 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4 1/2000 sec, f/4 iso 400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Bar-shouldered dove (Geopelia humeralis/em>)?
Australian range, bluish-grey breast, nape is copper, reddish-brown eye ring.
I'm with Hai~Ren, Bar Shouldered Dove.
Field mark: It's tatooed on the back of its neck! (the red patch, that is) I'd need a shot from above to tell if it's diocesan. Other field marks are the blue/gray breast, dark gray wings and white lower breast.
100% agree with Hai~Ren and apikoros, a Bar-shouldered Dove, Geopelia humeralis: forehead, bill, and breast blue-gray; wings gray-brown scalloped with black bars; orbital rings usually blue-grey, changing to maroon in the breeding season; coppery neck patch; legs and feet pink...
Three subspecies recognised: humeralis from the northern and eastern coasts of Australia; gregalis from southeast New Guinea (overall darker than birds from Australia); and headlandi from western Australia (overall paler than birds from eastern Australia)...
Therefore we have the nominate subspecies above, Geopelia humeralis humeralis.