Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Letter-winged kite/archive1
- The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.
The article was promoted by Laser brain via FACBot (talk) 12 August 2019 [1].
This article is about an elusive nocturnal raptor that generally lives in areas far from human activity....and thus is little studied. I have scraped together what is known for the article. I am waiting on OTRS to see if I can use another couple of images and someone may be in the process of donating others (so they will either appear or not at some point in the next few days). Anyway, have at it. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 15:12, 22 July 2019 (UTC)
SC
editScant fare from me; only four points to address:
- Description
- "and grey plumage is slightly darker all over": "the" or "her" before grey?
- Distribution and habitat
- Is the map necessary in the IB? If not, it could be moved to this section, where the distribution is being described. No probs if the IB is the usual place for distribution maps.
- Breeding
- "feathered by 3–4 weeks of age and can fly at 7 weeks": technically the numbers should be written out, but I leave that to your discretion
- Conservation status
- 1000 -> 1,000?
Another very nicely put together piece. Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 08:16, 24 July 2019 (UTC)
- Support All good from me - up the usual standard, which more than happily meets the FA criteria. - SchroCat (talk) 13:06, 24 July 2019 (UTC)
Image review
- Don't use fixed px size
- File:Kite,_Letter-winged_-_Strzelecki_Track_25-08-07_IMG_1519aa.jpg is tagged as lacking source info. Nikkimaria (talk) 13:10, 27 July 2019 (UTC)
Enwebb
edit- Should be "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" rather than "IUCN Red List of Endangered species"--terminology and capitalization slightly off
- Narrative of an expedition into Central Australia is in sentence case in text but title case in reference
- It has large deep red eyes, I think should be It has large, deep red eyes,
- Gloss explanation of cere
- "retrices" should be "rectrices" (two instances that I've seen)
- Birds in juvenile plumage are able to breed within their first year of age this confuses me. I think it would be better as "Individuals reach sexual maturity at x age" or "within x years"
- thought my way was in plainer English but not fussed really Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 20:37, 28 July 2019 (UTC)
- Now that I think about it, this may be a non sequitor in the description section anyway. Would it make more sense to include this in #Breeding? My confusion was also in part due to "birds in juvenile plumage" rather than "juveniles", as I had to think if there was a lag between a fledgling developing "juvenile plumage" and then the amount of time after that happened to reach sexual maturity. Kind of like a two-step math problem. I'm probably overthinking it though, in terms of terminology. Enwebb (talk) 21:34, 28 July 2019 (UTC)
- thought my way was in plainer English but not fussed really Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 20:37, 28 July 2019 (UTC)
- that's my feedback through "distribution and habitat" Enwebb (talk) 18:40, 28 July 2019 (UTC)
- You say When a mouse or other prey is spotted, but then go on to say that rats, not mice, are their primary food source. I feel you can simply say when prey is spotted
- Should central Australian be capitalized here? One central Australian study over two and a half years... In the next sentence, Central Australia is written with a capital C.
- Predation is pretty short to be a subsection. Sometimes I include information on predators, disease, and parasites for a mortality section if one aspect alone is scanty.
- ...contact with people in most parts of its range could be more simply contact with people in most of its range
- Feral cats prey on nestlings this should probably be in predation section
- Might be good to point out in conservation section that foxes and cats are non-native predators/competitors
That's all I have! Clearly a very high-quality article. Enwebb (talk) 21:34, 28 July 2019 (UTC)
Support Enwebb (talk) 14:33, 1 August 2019 (UTC)
FunkMonk
edit- Will have a look soon. Some initial comments. FunkMonk (talk) 01:29, 29 July 2019 (UTC)
- " to a subfamily Elaninae" The subfamily?
- Would it be good to show a cladogram?
- "It has been incorrectly called white-breasted sparrowhawk" Link sparrowhawk here?
- Anything on what's the closest relative within the genus?
- it will be basal to the other 3 species Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:40, 29 July 2019 (UTC)
- Should be stated then? FunkMonk (talk) 02:05, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
- I'll have another look but I don't think anyone has published anything phylogenetically on the group. The other three species are very similar and were considered conspecific at one point. I am guessing but I will see if I can find a source that supports same Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 03:25, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
- Should be stated then? FunkMonk (talk) 02:05, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
- it will be basal to the other 3 species Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 12:40, 29 July 2019 (UTC)
- The taxonomic history is unusually simple; no synonyms or recombinations?
- "Range of E. scriptus" Why the scientific name here?
- The caption to the video is very uninformative, how about "footage of two birds in Bowenville, SE Queensland" or similar?
- As there, why not state location in the other captions?
- "Feral cats prey on nestlings." No source.
- This image of multiple roosting birds seems more interesting than the video, if you have to choose:[2]
- You use both ise and ize.
- Central Australia is duplinked in the article body.
- "Birds:Non-passerines" Space needed?
- The taxonomic history is unusually simple; no synonyms or recombinations?
- "The feet have three toes facing forwards and one toe facing backwards." Isn't this common to all Accipitriformes? Seems an odd thing to point out?
- "Birds in juvenile plumage reach sexual maturity within their first year of age." this seems oddly phrased and placed. Isn't it the same as just saying the species reaches sexual maturity at this time, and shouldn't it be under breeding then?
- "coloration" This should be colouration, no?
- "the black-shouldered kite" You give scientific name for most other species mentioned in the article body. Perhaps others are missing.
- "Quueensland" Double u!
- "and southeastern corner" Is this a placename? Should be capitalised then, and anything to link?
- I wonder if the roosting image would make more sense where the nest image is now, as that paragraph deals with roosting, then the nest image would make more sense below in the breeding section, where it discusses the nest?
- "black kites (Milvus migrans)" given scientific name twice.
- "This individual then" Seems wordy and unspecific when you could just say "he" or "the male", as you say her?
- "and may even begin a second brood" With this or another male?
- "and have more than one nest and brood at once" Same question as above, is it the same phenomenon that is meant?
- "such as the plains rat (Pseudomys australis)" Here, and in a few other places, you link the scientific name rather than the common name, any reason for the inconsistency?
- Link dingo and house mouse?
- "It gains its name from the highly distinctive black underwing pattern of a shallow 'M' or 'W' shape" Only stated in intro.
- "the letter-winged kite is the world's only fully nocturnal Accipitriformes or Falconiformes raptor" Only specifically mentioned in intro, the article body just says family.
- given that the definition is raptor is a massive headache and now Accipitriformes and Falconiformes are distantly related and actually the former group is closer to owls anyway, the sentence becomes difficult to state simply. Also they occasionally do hunt in the day. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:45, 31 July 2019 (UTC)
- "Similarly to all the elanid kites" Only stated in intro.
Support from Hylian Auree
editA finely illustrated and comprehensive account on this cute bird. The prose reads well and is easily understandable to a layman as myself although I do believe the writing in the third large paragraph of the Breeding section could benefit from some tightening and simplification. I’ve reread it several times after my initial comments and I cannot fault it. Great work!
Auree ★★ 22:20, 31 July 2019 (UTC)
Please review my c/e to make sure I haven't changed the meaning anywhere. Specific comments:
- "There is some evidence that they are more divergent from other raptors and better placed in their own family." - I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to find out what evidence that is. Can we get a bit more on this, maybe in what way they are divergent? In any case, should we use "... that they may be" instead of the definitive "that they are" here, since the evidence isn't conclusive?
- rejigged last bit - it is genetic evidence but it was at genus level (Elanus) and none of the samples included this species. Furthermore this article is about the species so have aimed to provide enough context for the reader to place the species in the whole raport scheme of things but left out further detail as off-topic. The further evdence for a deeper split is also genetic Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 11:27, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
- "The letter-winged kite is generally silent when alone but often noisy when breeding or roosting communally at night, often beginning at the rising of the moon." Can we rejiggle this a tad so it's clearer what begins at moon rise: the noisiness, the breeding or the communal roosting?
- "likened to chicken-like" - reads a bit quirky (though I do like chicken)
- "A rasping call, or scrape, composed of six or seven half-second long notes is the main contact call between a pair, often used by the female in answer to a whistle by her mate, when a bird alights at the nest, or—loudly—in response to an intruder." - a bit long winded
- "which often starve" – not a huge deal, but if possible, can we briefly explain why their dispersal would lead to starvation?
- "The species is generally rare in New South Wales,[16] and has been recorded in the vicinity of Broken Hill in far western New South Wales,[21] and a dead bird recorded in a street in Inverell in the north of the state in 1965 and another spotted there a year later." - something is off here; could also be tightened/re-ordered.
- First, we read that it is unknown whether the kites remain bonded "between breeding seasons", but then we find out that "[t]here does not appear to be a set breeding season" – which left me a bit bemused.
- "dull white eggs measuring 44 x 32 mm" – needs conversion to inches
- We have a bit of description of the young birds in the Breeding section that overlaps with the Description section. Not sure if this is common practice ..?
- "He calls as he approaches, at which the female flies out to meet him and receive the food which she then conveys to the young. At times the male brings food to the female on the nest but has not been known to feed the young himself. As the brood grows, the female joins the male in catching food, and may even begin a second brood and leave the male to feed the older brood." - writing is a bit loose and disjointed in this portion.
- Can we split the large breeding paragraph? Maybe somewhere between the description of the physical nest and that of the brooding/eggs.
- "It flies at a height of 10 to 20 m (33 to 66 ft), moving in wide circles. It hovers at a height of up to 30 m (100 ft)." - what does the fact that it "hovers" higher than it flies means?
- hovering is when it is staying in one spot scoping for prey - it's very distinctive when you see it. I'd be guessing that it needs to be higher to take advantage of updrafts but I'd be guessing. No reason is given in the source Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:29, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
- "One Central Australian study over two and a half years found that the birds had relocated to an area within six months of a rodent outbreak starting." - why is this important? "relocated to an area" reads a bit like non-information.
- Ok, it means that after the rodent population started booming in one area, within six months the kites had found them and relocated there. As it was a specific field study, I added the location - might be important if other research from a different area finds something different. Rather than "relocated"...."moved in"? I like "relocated" as it implied "moved in and set up residence" there. I can't think of a more succinct way of saying it. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 10:37, 31 July 2019 (UTC)
- I think I understand now, and "relocated" is fine; I guess my confusion came from its placement within the paragraph. It comes right after we discuss declining rodents/bird dispersal, which makes it read as though their relocation to another area occurs after an outbreak's end, not in response to its beginning. What about moving it up behind the paragraph's first sentence, and rewording to "One Central Australian study over two and a half years found that, within six months of an outbreak starting, the birds had relocated to that location." or something similar? Auree ★★ 16:41, 31 July 2019 (UTC)
- Ok, it means that after the rodent population started booming in one area, within six months the kites had found them and relocated there. As it was a specific field study, I added the location - might be important if other research from a different area finds something different. Rather than "relocated"...."moved in"? I like "relocated" as it implied "moved in and set up residence" there. I can't think of a more succinct way of saying it. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 10:37, 31 July 2019 (UTC)
Thanks for another engaging read, Cas. Feel free to point out where I'm off track! Auree ★★ 01:51, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
- Support. I've seen the diurnal kite, but not this. Are there any known parasites? Also perhaps link red fox and split the long final para of "Breeding" Jimfbleak - talk to me? 12:38, 30 July 2019 (UTC)
Sources review
edit- No spotchecks carried out
- Links to sources all working, per the checker tool
- Formats all consistent
- Quality/reliability: No issues here
Brianboulton (talk) 12:31, 1 August 2019 (UTC)
Comments from Vanamonde
edit- Wondering if there's a way to separate the links for "irruptive" and "raptor" in the lead; those unfamiliar with the subject may miss the reference to population growth entirely.
- that's a tricky one. I think it is easiest just to delink bird of prey as a pretty obvious link. I can't otherwise think of a reword that splits the two words and irruptive is definitely the more educational link Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 04:56, 9 August 2019 (UTC)
- Link "primary coverts", perhaps.
"At night, it could be mistaken"
The "it" is potentially ambiguous, I think.
"heavier overall and lacks the black markings"
I'd prefer a comma before "and" but I recognize that folks have different opinions about this.
- I think sub-national territorial units, including Australian provinces, should be linked.
- Distribution and habitat starts with distribution, jumps to population irruptions, and then goes back to distribution...I think some reordering would help the flow.
- My idea was: core distribution --> irruptions --> places it appears when there are irruptions....? Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 04:56, 9 August 2019 (UTC)
- When using "city name, state", is it not conventional to follow the state name with a second comma? It reads odd to me without; but maybe it's an ENGVAR thing.
"in response to rodent plagues"
Does the source really say "plagues"? It strikes me as somewhat old-fashioned, coming from a time when all rodents were considered a nuisance...
- Are egg measurements averages? Do we need an "averaging" or even an "approximately" before them?
- In the third paragraph of "food and hunting", I'd prefer to see the material about potential competition gathered together; it's separated by a sentence about predation rate at the moment.
That's all I have; a solid article, if a tad brief. Ping me when you're done, if you would; I'm not watching this. Vanamonde (Talk) 15:42, 4 August 2019 (UTC)
- yes there was less material on this species definitely. @Vanamonde93: over to you... Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 05:01, 9 August 2019 (UTC)
- Support, all my concerns addressed. A reviewer has suggested that the prose over at Operation PBFortune could use further work, so if you have a moment comments would be much appreciated. Vanamonde (Talk) 02:00, 10 August 2019 (UTC)
- Closing note: This candidate has been promoted, but there may be a delay in bot processing of the close. Please see WP:FAC/ar, and leave the {{featured article candidates}} template in place on the talk page until the bot goes through. --Laser brain (talk) 19:06, 12 August 2019 (UTC)
- The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.