Today I followed this Spotted Pardalote to find its nest.
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I then waited for a while and managed to get some very pleasing shots of both birds. The bird with the brighter plumage overall had plain white spots on its head, a brilliant yellow throat and paler but very yellow underparts.
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I am guessing the brighter coloured bird is the male, however the other of the pair had yellow spots on its head. Can this be the female?
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I have never heard them described as having anything but white spots?
Can anyone set me straight about the genders?
Regards Roger
Oops, put the closeup in twice. Here's the wider view.
(I hope).
They are such lovely birds, aren't they? I've taken photos showing yellow spots, too.
I think that the bird with the yellow throat is the male.
Thanks for sharing these lovely photos.
Andy.
Those photos are absolutely beautiful, just devine. I love the ones with the nesting material.I did have some in my garden, but never got close enough to get good shots. Can I ask, what lens you used, and how close to the bird you were? M-L
M-L
Its a Sigma 150-500mm zoom. I was between 5 feet and 10 feet away. I was zoomed almost all the way out. Most of them were around 300mm.
Thanks Roger, I do just that most of the time, and try to get as close as possible. I have asked Santa for a BIG lens, LOL, but for now (and most likely much longer), my Sony 75-300mm is doing a good job. I still dream though. M-L
M-L
Nice shots Roger. The females have the yellow spots on the head and the male the white ones.
Great to see someone else using the Sigma 150-500.
M-L you would come away with lots of ripping shots with a bigger lens!
Cheers, Owen.
Male - bright yellow throatpatch
Female - dull, boring looking in comparison
And the spotting color difference is also diagnostic. :-)