This superb strip of five stamps shows part of a Greater
Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) colony, but also features three further
species. Stamps A and B both have distant Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia
ajaja) in flight, while stamp E has a pair of Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus
himantopus). Also there are two waders on stamp B which have long
yellow legs. I suggest these are Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
but the images are so small that I cannot rule out Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa
flavipes).
Update 28/3/99: Gaétan Duquette of Canada has done some measurements of the ratio of head to bill length which suggests that they are more likely to be Lesser Yellowlegs.
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Greater Flamingo colony | |||||
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Roseate Spoonbills | ?? Yellowlegs | Black-winged Stilts |
If anyone has any views or further information about these
waders, please let me know.
Added 17 March 1999