Phil Davis wrote:
>
> Hi Angus:
>
> I see you answered some of your own questions, but I already had this
> composed, so here you go ...
>
> It looks like Redwing (Turdus iliacus) breeds as far eastward in Siberia as
> about 160-161 degrees W, north of the Arctic Circle, just east of the lower
> Kolyma River. This is about 800 miles from Gambell, the closest point of
> USA land.
>
> Although mostly clinal, Clement (2000) identifies two subspecies; the
> northern Eurasian widespread nominate (somewhere I've seen this referred to
> as the "Continental Redwing") and T. i. coburni (the "Icelandic Redwing")
> which breeds in Iceland and the Faeroes. Colburni is reported by Clement as
> being similar to the nominate, however, very slightly larger; upperparts
> slightly darker or deeper warm brown; black streaks on breast heavier; and
> together with sides of belly, flanks and undertail coverts, washed olive-brown.
>
> Redwing winters mostly in Europe and Caspian to Kazakhstan.
>
> Neither the AOU (1998) nor Clement (2000) list any Alaskan records. Clement
> indicates that the 1959 New York record was often considered by some to be
> a possible escapee.
>
> Here is a link to a Russian range map for Redwing ... it seems to be in
> sync with Flint (1984) and Clement (2000).
>
> http://www.neisri.magadan.ru/academnet/infocentr/f_f/fauna/ptici/ptici_osn/254.htm
>
> FYI ... I ran the Russian text through Babblefish ...
>
> http://babel.altavista.com/translate.dyn
>
> and here is the (somewhat broken) result ...
>
> Turdus iliacus Linnaeus - belobrovik. It is encountered on nesting place in
> the north- taiga landscapes of the ponds Of kolymy and Indigirka, but east
> of the mouth of r.Oloy apparently does not nest. It is not found in the
> territories, which are to the coast of Sea of Okhotsk. In spring it appears
> in the average flow Of kolymy in the second decade of May, and near the
> northern boundary of area - at the end of May. The nesting it approaches
> early, already in the first decade of June. In the layings there are 4-6
> eggs. Sletki appear in the second decade of July. In autumn belobroviki
> begin to fly away in the last decade of August, but on the good berry
> fields frequently they stay to the third decade of September.
>
> This is an interesting set of Russian range maps. Paul Lehman passed on the
> reference to them from a third party that included the following comments ...
>
> " ... would like to draw your attention to distribution maps, made by the
> Magadan team of Russian ornithologists: They can be found at
>
> http://www.neisri.magadan.ru/academnet/infocentr/f_f/fauna/ptici/ptici.html
>
> "... I can not find any names of authors for these maps, but as far as I
> understand, they work in the Russian Academy of Sciences, Far Eastern Branch."
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Phil


--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

If you want to end war and stuff, you've got to sing loud
- Arlo Guthrie