Javan Plover
Marina East Breakwaters
17 Dec 2021


General details
Species Javan Plover Anarhynchus javanicus
Record ID 10123
Date 17 Dec 2021
Location Marina East Breakwaters
Count 1 individual
Age Not known; possibly female or juvenile
Sex Possibly juvenile or female
Date added 06 Jan 2022

This record has not been accepted by the Records Committee. For more details, see below.

Committee's view
Background
This record was also shared on the Bird Sightings Facebook Group where more images were shared by the observer, and with others in the region chipping in opinions (see Facebook link 1).

After much deliberation and consideration of opinions from several experienced observers from the region, our Records Committee voted on majority that, based on the descriptions provided and colours that can only be inferred from the available photographs, the bird is more likely to be a Kentish Plover. Additionally, two records of highly similar looking Plovers, that we identified as Kentish (with both also exhibiting buff ear-coverts), were photographed at the same site about two months later. Both could possibly have been the same individual as the bird in question based on plumage features. (See Facebook links 2 and 3).

However given that the Javan Plover has been documented breeding on Pulau Tekong before (an island just northeast of Singapore; see SBP link), our Records Committee acknowledges that it is very possible for one to be documented on Singapore island as well. In this instance we opted to take a conservative stance.

Additionally, our Records Committee acknowledges the great difficulty in distinguishing these similar and closely related species (for more information on identification see Iqbal et al (2013) available in the "Publication" link) and are open to re-evaluating this record upon additional evidence/expertise.

Vote results Against: 7, Abstain: 1
Verdict Not accepted (Verifiable)


Revisions to this record
Date revised Changes made
06 Apr 2022 Following feedback, the background has been expanded to provide additional rationale for our decisions.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (2022). Record 10123: Javan Plover Anarhynchus javanicus. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://records.singaporebirds.com/record/10123/.

Media
Credit for photo(s): Pary Sivaraman


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