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Dutch Birdin g Postadres [)utch Hirding. Pustbu, 75611, 1070 AP Amsterdam, Nederland Faxadres f)utch Birding, p/a 1VN iPaul Bóhre), Amstefdam, Nederland, 020-626601i7 Redactiesecretariaal Gerald Oreel 1020-67 3 07 1(l l Redactie Arnuud van den Berg, Tom van der Ilave, Graham Ilollnway, André van Iucrn, ( ;erald OreF•I, Frank Ruzendaal en 1 l,3ns Schekkerman DB Actueel : M,3x Berlijn, Ruud van Dongen en 1a,3[i Ferdm,3n s Fotografische redactie René Pup . Fforis Burgwal 54, 2 90 ' PH Capelle aan den (lssel . Nederland 101I)-4508,8791 Productie en lay-out André van Loon en René van Rossu m Advertenties lanl,rai Brinkman 10 1 5-569353/010-685 1 6 1 6 1 Redacliemedewerkers Klats Eigenhuis, Ted HcN>L;endnorn, Edward van Ilzendoorn, Karel Mauer en Hans van der ,ti1eu lc• i Abonnemenlen 1991 -NLG 45 Wederlandi ol BEF 9ut) IBelgiél ; NLG 50 toverige landen binnen Europai en NLG 55 Ilanclen huiten Eurupai . Girorekening INeder4an(J) 41 48 14 3 ; girorekening (België) (10(1 1592468 l9 ; hankrekening 54 'i S 12 l1()5 van Aly;r•mene Bank Nederlan<1 iAmstercl .rrni . Rr•keninl;en tnv 1)ut< h Birdin>; Ati .u( i .rlion, Pustbin 7 ib I I, 1070 .AP Arntilr•rdam, Nederlan d Voor abonnementen, inlichtingen en adreswijzigingen kan men zich richten tot : Dutch Birding, Postbus 75611, 1070 AP Amsterdam, Nederland. f)utch Birdinl; iti t•en twer•m,>ande•~k, lijdsc hritt met nummers in febru .tri, alaril, juni, 'rut ;usluti . uktober cn reidin); van vogels in Nederland en Europa en elders in het Palearctiuhe gebied . Het publiceert tevens 1>ijdragen over vogels in het Aziatisch-Pa
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Commissie Dwaalgasten Nederlandse Avifaun a Adres (F)NA, Posibus 45, 208(1 AA 5ant[xxrrt-7-uid, Nederlan d Leden Arnoud van den Berg i vcxrrzitter), Pieler Bison Isecretarrs 020-67157831, RoIÍ de Bv IarchivarisY, Klaas Eigenhuis, Ger.rld Oreel, C<xk Reijnders, Kees R<>selaar en Gerard Sleinhaus ; 5[)V(~N vrrtr} enwr~ordi~er Ruu
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Identification and status of Nordmann's Greenshan k Peter R Kennerlev ~ i7at-id N &!kcctiell

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urdn i ann's Gre{~n5hank Trir7,~;a ,g uttiti_ , r is the r,irest, most restricted and least-known memher ot the nenus Trin,r; a . li is a tairlv cli~tinctive speciesandconfusion isonlylikelyti+•ithC ;reen,hank T nF,hularia to which it is sutiicientlv tiimil,ir to be overlooked amonv,st large numbers ot that species . Additionally, GreenOhank exhihits a wide range ot plumat;e and bare-part colour variations which may add to the coniusion . Information regarding the fíekd identification ol Nordmann's Grer•ntihank has until recently been over-simpliriecl . St~indard texts have tended to stress similarities tu Greenshank and focus on those clitierences which are now considered to hc unreliable lsuch as the bicoloured bill} or clitíicult to observe in the field (such as foot-palm,}tions and whitc• unriera%-ing(overts) . Even though much has been learned in recent years, Norcfm,inn's Greenshank still remains one ot the ti,vorld's must enigmatic shnrellirdsThis paper discusscs the field icientiric .ition ot Nordmann's Greenshank and summariza-s current knowledge of its status and limiterl distrihution . This information is largely basecl utxon ohservattons made during sprínl ;,md ,3utumn migration in 11ong Kong IKennerlev n tiakewell 1987i, with adclitional observations irom the wintering grounds in Malaysia tBakewell 1989) and Banl;ia(lesh iBakewell & Howes 1989) . Separation from Greenshank l3nclti shape Al re-i, Nordm7nn', . Greenshank tvpicallv clispfa}•s ,i deep- and heavy-I}reasted structure whic h gives it a tront-heavv appearance rather tiimilar to an oversized Terek Sanclpitler X e nu k c rneretrs. This appearance is turther exat;t;eratecl bv IN- ilat belly ,ind pronounced ventral ankle hehind the le~,s which are invariably shown by tiorcimann's Greenshank when not activelv tee :cÍing-1 urthc,rmore, the thicker ne( k is typicallv held into the boc3v and the head is larger,rnd more hulhous . These ieatures, and lack otprimary projection bevonrl the tip of the tail, cornhine to hroduce a hunched af-)pearanc-ewhich is uniqueto Nordmann'sGreenshank, When actively teedint;, Nordmann's Greenshank can look quite dirlerent trom the hea\,~• lethar# ;ic c:reature which it allllears to be ~+;hen roostint; . AI-

1 lhp~ h Hirdi,rq 1 1 .- 1 -R- rr•hrii „, 194 11

thr , u,t;h i t st €11 reai ns it5 deep-breasted ,~lllx ,rranc e, th c ventral angle may ilmost entirely clisappear, tlarricufarlv when it lunt ;es for%vard with its neck ettendccl . It can then ,tppear alniost as elet ;ant as a Greenshank hut aiways maintains a shortc,r-Ic,gged riPf'arance . Bv contrast, Greenshank Irresents a verv elet;ant appearance with long tine lec;s, sleneler nec k and small hu,rd and a bociv which Lieks the hul4: of Nordmann'ti Greenshank . ( )c c atiionally, a retitins ; Greenshank'rtiAll show a ventral angle and cxlenc{ its bellv Íc~~athering to cover Ihe upper tihia bui never to the extent shown bv Nordmann's and it still retains its elegant ap(aearance with a snl .ill head, fine ner k and slender hocly tapering genlly to a point li t4w t,til .

2 .ssential to appreciate that Grcenshank does show a sí ngle reduced palmation hetween the outermost and central toes . These palmations can be scen nn hoth species whvn the foot is c xtlused, particularly when the bird is legstre~tching and facínt; the observer . The leg colour of Nordmann's Greenshank is velIcJw, tyhically duil oc hreous yellow with i green tint;e url the tibia and becuming brit;htest cm the tout, hit;hlighting the Íoot-webbint; . The illustrations in Havman et li { 19fih1 fail to emlJhasize this colour titi•hich is an extremelv useiul rielci char,ic ter . 1lowever, it is important to be aware Ihat Greenshank c<m show considerabie variation in leg colour trom grey to p ale olive and on uccasions rnay also cxhihit distinctly yellow or oran};e legs . This ic,iture iti, however, rnore likely to causeconfusion sa-ith íts Neirctic countert7 .irt, theGre .tterYeflowlet;s T m c la ncllv uca, since Ihcoverail shape,~nd plumat;e teatures ot Nordmann's should preclucle contusllJn .

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lrlentilication and stalus oi Norr-hn,rnn's Greenshm nk Bil! Much has been written about the distínctive bicoloured appearance of the bill of Norrlmann's G reenshank but the shape of the bi I I is undoubted ly of more significance than its colour . In comparison with Greenshank, Nordniann's Greenshank has a slightly longer, heavier, deeper-hased and more blunt-tipped bill and these are useful characters tor separating the species . The cross-sectional shape of the bill is an even more useful feature . When seen head-on, the bill of Greenshank appears laterally compressed, ie, its cross-sectional depth is greater than its width which gives a rather tivell-defined narrow culmen ridge . Nordmann's Greenshank has a more broadly hased bíll with a more circular cross-section lacking a well-defined culnien ridge . This useful feature, once appreciated, is readily visible and the broad base to the bill of Nordmann's Greenshank is apparent even on sleeping hirds . Bill coiour is extremely variable in hoth species but adult Greenshank probably exhibits a strongly bicoloured bill more consistentfy than does adult Nordmann's! Adult Nordmann's Greenshank generally shows a greyish or olive-grey bill which shades darker towards the tip . The extreme base of the lower mandible of Nordmann's is yellowish in a significant proportion of birds, particularly in winter . Nevertheless, the hill of adult t;ordmann's frequently appears entirely dark . luveniles dt), hotiti,ever, show a strongly bi-cofoured bill in autumn with the basal half pale Kreyish-yellow and the distal half blackish with the division clearly defined . Greenshanks in the eastern part of their range more frequently exhihit a bi-coloured bill than do their western counterparts and often show a bill pattern similar to that of juvenile Nordmann's . In spring, anygreenshank showínKa stronglyhi-colourecl bill is unlikelv to be a Nordm ann's . 41 inter plurnage Head In adult winter plumage, the head of Nordmann's Greenshank is extremely pale, vvith ashgrey feathering confined to the crown, upper earcoverts, lore and nape . The forehead, supercilium, chin, lower ear-coverts and throat are white . The supercilium is of variable shape and strength behind the eve but broadens noticeablv in front, creatingadistinctivewhitetoreheadwhich is usuallv more extensive than in Greenshank . This superciliary bulge in front of the eye appears to be a consistent feature oi Nordmann's Greenshank in all plumages . Occasionally, the superciliuni only extends as far as the rear edge of the eye but is often present behind the eve where it tapers towards the

rearof the ear-coverts . In sonie birds in winter plumage in April-May, it extends over the ear-coverts to meet the white sides of the neck, thus surrounding the pale grey ear-c :overt patch . ~JF1p erlm rts In tivinterplumage, Nordmann's Greenshankhas an almost ethercal appearance :plate 41 . The scapulars, wing-coverts and tt°rtials are pale ash-grey, muc h pa ler and more uniform than Greenshank norrnally shows in this pfum age . The scapulars and coverts are narrowl,v fringed white and lack the dark subterminal crescents of Greenshank . The mantle-feathering is sirnilar hut does show very narrow dark subterminal crescents, prociucing a rather neat hut faintly scaled pattern . The tertials are pale grey, rrint;ed white, and lack the numerous fine dark notches along the outer fringe which Greenshank shows in all plumages . The tail is plain pale grey ; sometinies the outer rectrices are lit ;htly barred hut usually they appear entirely white . Underparts in adult winter plumage, the entire underparts of Nordmann's Greenshank are white and unmarked . By contrast, Greenshank in similar plumaKe typically shows fi ne dark streaking across Ihe breist and on the sides of the neck and flank . However, caution must be exercised in late luly and August when moultint ; C reenshanks hecome progressively whiter on the breast until the unrlerparts are almost entirely white, with fine rlark streaking restricted to the sides of the upperbre .isr . In some instances, this streaking may he entirely absent and Greenshank can then appear similar to Nordmann's Greenshank in winter plumage . Bv late C)ctober, however, the underparts of Greenshank have normal ly worn to reveal the Iypical grey streaking on the breast associated with winter plumage .

5urnmer pluma,Ge Head As moult i nto summer plumage progresses, the supercilium becomes less ohvious althouKh it is invariably present as a bulge in rront ot the eye on hirds observed on spring mít;ration in Hong Kong . Since this feature is quite difficult to discern on photographs of birds on the breeding grounds, it is considered that the head beconies darker due to wearand thatthis feature isalmostentirelvlost . The feathering around the base of the bill and the chin remain white and unmarked in summer plumage but Ihe head and neck are streaked blackish while the ear-coverts often exhibít a broti.-nish tinge . This streaking on the rear crown and ear-coverts is tine but on the nape it beconies quite heavy, particularly so towards the base of the neck .

lrierltitïca tio n and status at Norrlm a nn's Greens h,3n k

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3 Nnrrlmunn's Gretrn~hnnks Trinha ji~ irllirer, right bird having comrnenred muult intu urnmt-r iflrn,ige . lett hird in winter Irlumige having not startet! moult, N4ai Po, Hong Kong, April 1988 (Ray Tipper ; 4 Nordmann'c Greenshank Tringa g nttit pr, winter plumaKe, Mai F'o, Hong Kong, April 1988 fRay Tipuer'

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Icle nfit ic .rtiot7 and s M trrs o(N'orelrna nrl's G r een ~lr, r ;l. Upl)erpartti The pattern oÍ the ne>.s•ly moulted summer plumage sc apuiars, wing-coverts and lertials is unique to Nordmann's Greenshank and readily separates it Írom Greenshank !plates 1-2, figure 11) . The scapulars are t;rev-centred hut deepiy indented with tríanl;ularw•hite notches, producing a striking spangled effect along the edge of the feather, unique to Nordmann's Greenshank . the feather-cerrtres themselves may vary in colour between pale grc•y in some (first-surnmer?~ birds to dark grey or even black in strongly marked individuals but the positioning ot these pale- and darkcentred scapufars appears to be random (plate 3f . B,v contrast, the scapulars of Greenshank in sunimer plumage are much plainer, having a large hlackish centre borclered b,v a narrow ~.,vhite fringe which is finely notched . In Greenshank, this frint;c° largely disappears through wear by luly, causing these feathers to appear entirely dark . Both species often retaín many or their winter scapulars during spring migration ; photographs of Nordmann's on their breeding grounds also show some winter scapulars are retained . The tertials of Norcimann's Greenshank are dark grey or biackish with deep triangular white notr hes alonK the outer edge . Thiti produces a span~ l{ cl appearance and adds to Ihe similar effect created by the scapulars . One or iwo new tertials showing this pattern can often he found on mit ;rating, adult Nordmann's in .April-May, hut frequentíy Ihe ofd pla in-edt;ed tertials of titi.-i nter pl umage are retained hv mikrating hirds . By contrast, the tertials of Greenshank have a brownish-grey centre and a white Íringe which is tinefy notched with many narrow htack lines . Underparts As Nordniann's Greenshank moults into summer plumage, tiniall black spots begin to appear on the sides of the breast which progressi-

t-ely inc rease in extent until thore is .i random s(attering of spots across the breast ancl fi ne stre.iks and chevrons on the flank and side of the breast . Birrls with hreast-spots approaching the tiizc^ ancl intensity of the birds illustrated in F-latmian el al I t r1Bh) or Knvstautas 1198ï 1 are excef>d i nglv r .are on spring migration although it is tvpically the e,irlier migrants which displav this pattern . Aduit Greenshanks in summer plumage ,tre always slwaked on the breast and this increases in intensity ,iti 1 he se,ison progresses . In some I,}irds, spots r,ither th,an streaks .ippear alonK the lowerbreast and this tc-,ilurecanbeparticularlvobviousinJulvwhenthe birds are heavily worn and starting body moult . Tht~v then appear hlotchy and can bear a superficiai resemblance to aclult Nordmann's Greenshank in full summer plumage . Jcnt~nrlc° plunmge Ne m d 3uveníle birds observed during autunin migration in September-October exhibkt a head paltern quite different from that oi adults . The crmvn is plain, unstreaked medium t ;rey brotivn ,tnd contrasts with the off-lti-hite superci l ium, givi nt ; thc, crown a slightlv capped apt~earince . The supercíl ium is broad and well-definecl, in front of thc~ evesimilar in shape to that of an adult, hut brorrder ancl more prominent hehind it, with a r,ither scauare-rnr{ed, slightlv upswept appearance . The lore and r„rr-toverts am streaked, producing a s ;reyishhrown area in front o# and heh ind the eve . Thc• c hin . Ihrcrai
FIGURE 1 Sc.apular (Aiand tc•rtial patterns (l3)ot ~'ordmann'S ( rrr•enshank 7ringa guttirPrand Greenshank Tnerttolari, r T g urriYCv

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lrlcvuilrr,rlíon arxl titatu± ot Nordmhann "s Greenshm nl,

5 Nordrnann'~ Grecn .hank Trirt,q .r purNli°r, juvenile, lap .~n, Septernher fTak,rshi ti .rn .traJ 6 Noxdrnann's Greenthank rrin,~a ,c oliik•r, in fli g hi, showing kvhiie unde na;ing-cnverlti arul frxrl txnjection beyond tip oÍ roil, ti1aí Po, Iiong Kong, C)ctober 19 88 [r'r~fer R Kennerley l

cularlv noticeahle towards the tip where the fringe heconaes wider . However, the lesser ccrverts are c#arker ancl larocluce aciark carpal pltth . As a result, the greater and mecliin coverts appear paler than the mintle ancl sclpulars which are simil,ar in colcrur bui clisplay a narrower notched trínge . The tertials resemble those ot an adult in stnnmer plumage hut are brown insteicl or ciark g rc, v and the notc hes are smal ler hut more numerous . As in aclult birds, usuallv two or three primaries are visible heyond the Inngest tertial . Underparts TheunclerpartsofjuvenileNorclmann's Greenshank are tvpically white wíth a brov+-n vvash across the hreast and ln indistinct brownish smudge on the ioreflank . This wash is lost during the moult into a~Anter plumlge except on the sides of the neck and crpperflank, whife the remainder ot the underparts becc)rne entireiy white as in a[iult winter plum .age . FG,~ht identiticatio n In ílight, Green5hankanci Norclmtnn'sGreenshank are exlremely similar . Both species show dark unmlrked wings and mantle, white uppertailcoverts, rurnp and lowerback which tarnduc :e the

distinctive white wedge up the back . ()n closer ex,ami nation, differences c!o become apl,irent . harticularly in ytructure inci the let ; projeclion hevonci the taí l-tïla . The visihle prrsjection of the legs hevoncl the tip ot Ihe tail is generally di,at ;nostic unless, oi course, the bircf is flyint ; with its IeKs retracted . in flight, the tcaes of lNordrrrann's Greenshank project slit;htlv hevoncl the tip of the tail . This, rnmhined with Ihe mart;inally hroader-based winhs, gives Norclmann's Greenshank a str.>rky appearance in fli# ;ht, c ;uite cliiferent from the e1egance of Greenshank which shows the feet noticeably projecting bevond the tail tplate hl . When the unclerwing is well seen, the titi•hite undertiti-ing-csaverts of Norrlmann's Greenshank contrast with the darker undersicle to the primaries and secondaries . These white and unmarkec{ underwing-coverts are diagnostic oi Nordmann's Greensh nk but care should be taken as this can be verv difficult to assess accuratefy dclc to the shading effect of the wing . Sinc e the tiil of Norclmann's Greenshank is not as heavily barred as that of Greenshank, it c-an appear entirelv white in slit;ht which enhances the white weclge up the back . Qn jcivenile hircfs, the seconclaries and inner primaries are p~ile-tippecl while the

ldentiíication and stW us of Norclmann's Greensli,trt F outer primaries are entirely dark and lack any contrasting fringes .

Cd 1 1 The call of Nordmann's Greenshank is completely different from that of Greenshank . Instead of Ihe characteristic rint;ing tu-tu-tu call of Greenshank, Nordmann's occasionally utters a single note variously described as reminiscent of a Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica or a t ;odkvit L imos,r an(1 transcribed as k~w) rk or g t4•aak . It is not as vocal as Greenshank but its caÍl is distinctive and loud enough to be picked out in a calling flock nf waders . A group ot birds roosting al Mai Po, Hon g Kont;, was once heard to utter a chorus ot franlic yapping calls reminiscent of those given hy Blacktailed Godwit L lirnosa . In the lower Yangtze region, China, tiordmann's Greenshank is a preferred decoy species used bv bird trappers who know it as the'Kwaak bird', a rather apt name based upon its distinctive call II)avid Melville pers c :omml . Polential confusion specie s Given good view,, ,~lorcímann's Greenshank can onlv he mistaken iarr Greenshank . However, there are a few• other spec ies which could be consitierecl to be potential confusion species under less than ideal conditions . In winter plumage, •t roosting Great Knot CalicJris tenuirostris exhihit~ a clarker shade ot grey on Ihe m intle than vordmann's Greentihank . Thev also retain quite extensive spotting on the sides or the hreast and couid be a source of contusion durinh spring migration hefore moultinf ; into summer plumake . However . shape and structure should prec lude confusio n In flight, Marsh Sandpiper T stagnatilis sho~,s a pattern on the mantle and upperwing similar to hoth Greenshank and Nordmann's Greenshank . lls structure is, howevc•r, more delicate and the IeL;s project well heyonrl the tip of the t .iil . When at rest or feeding, its Íine bill, long let ;s and delic~tte structure will be immediatelv ohvious . Ahhough it mav seem an unlikely candidate . Terek Sandpiper has a teeclinL; behaviour very similar to Ihat of Nordmann's G iven good views, separation should not be á problem bui a clist,int individual, with no other species present for comparison, + ould be mistaken lor Nordmann's . Behaviour lNhen feecling, Nordmann's Greenshank tavours intertidal mud-fiats where they prefer the tidehne and feed in a manner reminist:ent of aTerek Sandpipvr . Their preterred food items are crahs and they tiearch erratically for these, irequently making a

iinal dash to c apture them . Small crabs are ust.r .illy swallowed whole but lar# ;er onc•s are shaken unti l the legs tail otÍ . We have seen one individual make hesitant stabs at a clead crab w•ith carapace length estimated at bp mm hut it quickly lost interest in this unusuallv large item . These observations are consistent wilh those made in Th,iil,rnd during the winter months hy Bijlsma & de Roder (198 0) . In Hong Kong, we have not recorded N'ordmann's Clreenshank chasing and c .ltchint; fish as Greensh,ink otten does . When roostin) ;, Nordmann's Greensh .znk~ are reniarkable Íor their inactívitv . Upon arrival al Ihe roost, they tinx)st immecG