Text & Photo © Christoph Himmel
During my wader counts at Lake Machmudchala I discovered two interesting Penduline Tits, which somehow look like Black-headed Penduline Tits (Remiz macronyx) or at least like hybrids. Both had blackish heads with a various amount of grey feathers in the nape. Unfortunately, the plumage was heavily worn. One bird had a blackish throat with some skin visible, grey neck and forehead. Tail and flight feathers were without broad white fringes (but maybe also worn). The second bird had a more whitish throat and dark grey feathers surrounded a large black mask. As in the other bird no broad white fringes on flight and tail feathers were visible. A possible third bird with a black head was also observed. In addition, I also observed two young birds in the reed bed, which might belong to the black-headed birds.
Any comments on the ID are welcome!
Birding Azerbaijan 