As Scott said , those little birds are difficult to Id, especially when they are so high up in a tree, you can only look at them on the computer later by zooming in.(the wonders of technology). This one was tiny, has a fair bit of yellow coming through on his/her abdomen. Could it be a "yellow-rumped Thornbill"? What do you think? Thanks,M-L
I don't think it's a yellow-rumped, but I'm no expert at all on Thornbills. Certainly doesn't look like an adult to me - they look different enough from the 'Brown' thornbills to tell apart - head markings, head shape, bright yellow rump (on adults at least!). Here's some Yellow-rumped Thornbill photos of mine for comparison:
Maybe yours will grow into mine? But it just doesn't look quite right to me. Behaviour can help also - I've noticed the Tasmanian / Brown Thornbills here spend most of their time in trees and shrubs whereas the Yellow-rumpeds spend most of their time feeding on the ground...
Hope this helps!?
Cheers,
Scott.
I'd go for Imm. Buff-rumped Thornbill...
Any other guesses?
Scott.
Hi Scott, I just noticed the legs on "my" bird are pinkish.The Buff-rumped seems to have dark legs? That might help? It did stay high in the tree, might not have liked me? LOL Thanks , M-L
M-L
Forgot to say, your photos are great. What are the round, black things in photo 2, some poo ? M-L
M-L
Very interesting photos and question Araminta. I agree that it's not a yellow-rumped TB, the face is lacking the streaks and brow. The beak is interesting, I have many shots of Brown TBs and Striated TBs and they all have shorter slightly rounded beaks. I think Buff-rumped possible, but the eye seems wrong. I think they have a whitish iris ring. Looks more like a Tasmanian TB than any locals!
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Amongst my photos of thornbills, (which I have had much difficulty identifying) many have, what appears to be, yellowish rumps and under bellies, but I think they are reflected green/yellow light from the surrounding foliage.
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I recently posted some questions about a scrub-wren that it turns out was probably juvenille, it also had pinkish legs whereas the adults don't.
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I will be staying subscribed to this post with much interest. Thanks for the pics. Roger
Roger - my book says immature Buff-rumped Thornbills are 'plainer, eye dark'.
I still reckon it's the front-runner!
On an aside - I've only just realised that we have both Brown and Tasmanian Thornbills in Tassie... I'd just been calling everything tassie thornbills thanking goodness I didn't even have to try to differentiate them!! Took some photos of a few today, will now look to see if I can tell what I've been looking at!
Scott.
Oh and yes M-L, that is just plain old poo :) That one was taken on Maria Island (east coast of Tas) - LOTS of pademelons, wallabies, wombats and Cape Barren Geese, all feeding and pooping on the grass...
I just had a thought, maybe we are all on the wrong track thinking it is a Thornbill? Maybe it is a Large-billed Scrubwren?? My book says: Dark eye, black bill...and it has pinkish legs.Might be a juvenile of some kind of Scrubwren, the bill looks very similar(pointy)? Just a thought. M-L
M-L
Large-billed Scrubwren for sure, great shots too, I'm jealous!
Cheers, Owen.
Cool! Knew this would be interesting, found this on boca.org.au
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The pointy beak convinces me. One of my first ID questions on the forum was about scrubwrens and thornbills.
Roger
resized picture:
Well, finally I got one right! Suddenly I had an "enlightenment" when I saw a White-browed Scrubwren outside , and thought the shape was so similar. And I can always count on young Owen to know what bird it is. Thanks so much Owen.
M-L