Birds of Central Asia

Raffael Ayé, Manuel Schweizer, Tobias Roth

• Publisher: Helm
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781408142707
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Sciences biologiques
• Subtopic: Zoologie

BIRDWATCHER'S HIGHLY COMMENDED BIRD BOOK OF THE YEAR Birds of Central Asia is the first field guide to include the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, along with neighbouring Afghanistan. This vast area includes a diverse variety of habitats, and the avifauna is similarly broad, from sandgrouse, ground jays and larks on the vast steppe and semi-desert to a broad range of raptors, and from woodland species such as warblers and nuthatches to a suite of montane species, such as snowcocks, accentors and snowfinches. This book includes 141 high-quality plates covering every species (and all distinctive races) that occur in the region, along with concise text focusing on identification and accurate colour maps. Important introductory sections introduce the land and its birds. Birds of Central Asia is a must-read for any birder or traveller visiting this remote region.

APPENDIX 1

OLD VAGRANTS, UNDOCUMENTED RECORDS AND DOUBTFULLY RECORDED SPECIES

This list comprises species recorded as vagrants prior to 1950, doubtfully recorded species, and vagrants whose future occurrence is considered unlikely in the region.

Snow Partridge Lerwa lerwa	doubtfully recorded Afg
Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus	Afg
Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha	doubtfully recorded
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor	Afg
Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus	Afg
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger	Afg
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster	recently reliably recorded in Uzb, further occurrence unlikely
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina/ Indian Spotted Eagle A. hastata	reports from Afg, Tkm
Indian Vulture Gyps indicus	doubtfully recorded Afg
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca	Afg
Hooded Crane Grus monacha	Kaz
White-naped Crane Grus vipio	Kaz
Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus	Kaz/Uzb
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima	doubtfully recorded
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii	doubtfully recorded Afg
Red Turtle Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica	doubtfully recorded Afg
Common Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus	Afg
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius	doubtfully recorded
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus	Afg
House Crow Corvus splendens	might occur Afg
Long-billed Bush Warbler Bradypterus major	Tjk
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus	Afg
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus	Afg
Hodgson’s Bushchat Saxicola insignis	Kaz
Upland Pipit Anthus sylvanus	Afg
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni	Kaz
Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea	Tkm
Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata	Uzb
Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala	Kaz, Uzb
Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila	Kgz, Tjk

APPENDIX 2

MOULT AND AGEING OF LARGE RAPTORS

For many species of large raptors, at least an approximate knowledge of the age of a bird is important for correct identification. Some ageing criteria are valid for many large raptors and are described below. Observers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these and to train on the ageing of large raptors on some of the commoner species in their usual birding sites.

Moult strategies

Large raptors often cannot replace their whole plumage in one year and have developed special moult strategies. Their moult proceeds in waves that may overlap. Primary moult starts from the innermost primary and proceeds outwards. The sequence of secondary moult is much more variable. Secondary moult usually starts from several points: the outermost secondary, close-to-innermost secondary and one or more secondaries in between. In most eagles and other large raptors, new waves of moult are started every year, even if the previous wave(s) has not yet been completed. Correspondingly, often three (sometimes four) generations of remiges can be found on one bird. Typically, the outermost primary is among the last juvenile feathers that are retained. It is then heavily bleached and abraded due to exposure to sunlight and physical abrasion over sometimes several years. Under favourable conditions, differences in bleaching and abrasion can be detected between each generation of remiges. The moult strategy of all these species leads to common ageing criteria. All remiges are of the same generation in juveniles, but not usually at later ages. In immature and adult birds, there are usually two or more generations of remiges present at the same time. Later generations of remiges often differ in length from juvenile remiges (see below).

Trailing edge of wing in juveniles, immatures and adults

Fresh juveniles have a very regular trailing edge to the wing, because all remiges are of the same length (and age). However, single juvenile feathers are more pointed than later generations and thus the trailing edge is saw-toothed when seen at close range. Later generations of remiges often differ in length from juvenile remiges, leading to a very irregular trailing edge of the wing in immature birds. The trailing edge becomes again slightly more regular and smooth in most adult birds with broader-tipped remiges of equal length. However, it is o...