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Working paper
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus observations in Inhambane, Mozambique, 3rd August 2017
including three birds showing characters of Steppe Whimbrel N. p. alboaxillaris.
By Gary Allport
On 3rd August 2017 I was part of a group that included Melanie Heath, Adrian Long and Peter Wood,
traveling to Tofo. We passed through Inhambane and happened to be at the right time to see a
group of around 375 Whimbrel gathering on the rising tide.
Knowing that this was a lucky opportunity to check for Steppe Whimbrel – at the type locality (Lowe
1921) – we walked down to the beach and I took 350 digital photos of the birds as they moved in
groups on the rising tide, using Canon T6s and 400mm lens.
Review of the photos showed that there were 368 bird in total, many in mid-primary moult and
assumedly birds which were non-breeding and spending the boreal summer in the southern
hemisphere. The images also revealed at least three birds showing the characters of Steppe
Whimbrel N. p. alboaxillaris.
The purpose of this working paper is to make the information and images available for quick
reference pending future publication.
Analysis of photos
c.217 birds were identifiable to subspecies level in the images and three birds were found to be
showing characters of alboaxillaris (Allport & Cohen 2016, Allport 2017).
Five images were selected for further analysis each containing a group that was unique, taken as the
groups of birds moved off. Three of these images contained at least one putative alboaxillaris.
166 birds were examined in detail these four images noting sub-specific identification, presence of
moult and a simple moult score for those in active moult (number of unmoulted primaries).
Image
Total
birds
Total identifiable as
N. p. phaeopus/
(N. p. alboaxillaris)
Total not
identifiable to
subspecies
1
39
26
13
2
56
31 (1)
24
3
21
15 (1)
5
4
7
7
0
5
43
34 (1)
8
Totals
166
113 (3)
50
Table 1. Number of Whimbrels identifiable to subspecies level in five sample images
Image
N. p.
phaeopus
identified
In active
moult
Not in
moult
Unclear
% not in
moult
1
26
22
2
2
8.3
2
31
26
4
1
13.3
3
15
9
1
5
10.0
4
7
7
0
0
0.0
5
34
30
2
2
6.3
Totals
113
94
9
10
8.7
Table 2. Number of Whimbrel identified as N. p. phaeopus in active moult
and not moulting in five sample images
Fig. 1. Frequency distribution of number of old primaries in N. p. phaeopus,
3rd August 2017, Inhambane Mozambique (n=103). Those with score of 10 are not in active moult.
Putative alboaxillaris
Three birds were found in the images none of which showed the full set of features to confirm
subspecific identification but all showed the correct features insofar as they were visible.
Bird 1
Top right, with wing on down-stroke. Note spotted outer webs of inner primaries, pale tail and
rump, pale face.
Bird 1. Two underwing shots. Note white underwing with dark primary tip, reduced flank barring,
pectoral band higher up chest than N. p. phaeopus
Bird 2
Bird 2. White underwing, pale rump and tail, reduced flank barring.
Bird 3
Bird 3 is centre, lower left with another possible bird at the top of the frame. Note white axillaries,
reduced flank barring and grey face.
Discussion
Of the flock of 368 birds in total c.217 were identifiable to subspecies (59%) from the
photos. There were at least three putative alboaxillaris. It might reasonably be supposed
that at least one more bird was amongst the group, indeed there is some evidence of fourth
putative alboaxillaris in one image.
Of the subsample of identified N. p. phaeopus 91.3% were in active moult with modal score
of 4 old primaries remaining and a range of 2-8. These are likely to be non-breeding birds
spending the Boreal summer in the southern hemisphere and fit the moult schedule
suggested from previous observations (Cramp & Simmons 1983).
Four birds were completing the final growth of the outermost primary and may represent a
smaller group of non-breeders on a different, earlier moult schedule.
8.7% of identified N. p. phaeopus were not in active moult and might be considered to be
recently arrived adults returning from the breeding grounds and possibly still on migration
southward. However, it is possible that some of these birds may be non-breeding birds
which have completed their full primary moult according to an earlier schedule.
All three alboaxillaris were not in active moult but the state of primary condition is
inconclusive as to whether these birds are clearly returning adults, or non-breeding birds on
an earlier moulting schedule.
References
Allport, G. 2017. Steppe Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus alboaxillaris at Maputo, Mozambique, in
February–March 2016, with a review of the status of the taxon. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 24(1): xx-xx
Allport, G. & Cohen, C. 2016. Finding Steppe Whimbrel: discovery and identification in southern
Africa. African Birdlife 4(6):48-54
Cramp, S. & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 3. Oxford, UK:
Oxford University Press.
Lowe, P. R. 1921. [Exhibition and description of a new subspecies of Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus
alboaxillaris) from Portuguese East Africa.] Bull. Br. Ornithol. Cl. 41: 110.
