A two-part series on Black-belied Plovers and American Golden Plovers in their non-breeding plumage, both firsts (lifers) for me.

HOW TO TELL THEM APART

Part One:

Top Image: An American Golden Plover, bottom right and a Black-bellied Plover, top, left. Note the similarity. In this image the back and wing feathers of the Am Golden appear to be slightly more yellowish or golden than those of the B-b Plover. This can be deceiving however, as illustrated by the following images. (Note: the above image is made up from two images in order to have both birds in focus. In the field, I focused first on one, then on the other, then I combined the two images in Photoshop.)


A Black-bellied Plover. Appears to have a slightly golden-brownish sheen in this image


An American Golden Plover, clearly more golden than the B-b in the image directly above.


Oops, not a Black-bellied, but the same American Golden Plover as in the image directly above. Not quite so golden in this image. This image was taken in a shady area of the beach; whereas, the image above was taken under a golden sun. I at first incorrectly I.D'd this as a Black-bellied.

I took several images of the two, both separately and side-by-side. Depending on the light conditions, I found it to be almost impossible to distinguish between the two based on feather patterns and colours only.

Tomorrow, Part Two, showing some distinct differences between the two Plovers. ( See http://www.pbase.com/hankvv/image/129192804 for Part Two)