I know these are terrible photos but does anyone have any ideas for an ID?
Thanks
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Hi Akasha, you probabely told us a few times where you live,but where was the photo taken? Size would be good too?
Otherwise I would say Musk Lorikeet, because of the red markings on cheek? Can you give a few more details please?
M-L
Im going with Little Lorikeet,but it could also be a young Swift Parrot
My guess (as a newbie though) would be Swift Parrot
Another vote for Swift Parrot, female or juvenile.
Both Musk & Little Lorikeet are brownish on the back of the lower neck, the 1st photo shows this is not the case on this bird. Also on Little Lorikeet the red face goes right up to the eye, whereas on Swifty the red face stops short of the eye, i.e. the Swifty has green plumage right around the eye. This is clearly shown in 2nd & 3rd photo. On Musk the red forehead patch meets the eye, with another red patch going away from the back of the eye, clearly not the case on his bird. Finally in the last photo you can see the upper-tail is red, another indicator for Swifty & not Musk or Little.
I'm still keen to know where it was?
Actuually little lorikeets do have red or orange on the outer edge of there tails like in the last photo , the other markings do look like a swift parrot but I cant see any blue on the head which is why I thought it might be a juvenile,they are both found in the same areas, the more I look at the photos the more I lean towards Juvenile Swift Parrot !
I'm not even going by the face or tail LOL. I noticed in the picture of it's back facing us you can see the two yellow spots at the wings, I'm not sure but don't only swift have that red/yellow there? sorry if I'm mistaken
Thanks for your help everyone. I didn't put any details initially because I just wanted to see what your first impressions were. At first I thought Musk or Little Lorikeet but when I checked the photos I started to think Swift Parrot and wasn't sure if that was just wishful thinking. These pics were taken at Conimbla National Park (near Cowra, NSW).
good find akasha, I look out for them each year as well.
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
any chance of you checking for them again next Friday?
I'm currently working in Canberra and next weekend is a Canberra weekend, I could drive up on Saturday and still be back for dinner that night (dinner is already arranged)
Peter
definitely a Swift Parrot. Lucky you!
I agree, Swift Parrot. Awesome find! I'm obsessed with them and look for them around Hobart every Spring - Summer. I usually see groups of 3-15 flying overhead, but in March I saw a vocal flock of about 50 (presumably starting to head up your way!).
Thanks for posting these pics. I'm also assuming it's a juvenile from the lack of much coloration and yellow under-tail not bright red (SteveM - I didn't think you could tell males and females apart?).
Cheers, Scott.
Scott said "I'm also assuming it's a juvenile from the lack of much coloration and yellow under-tail not bright red (SteveM - I didn't think you could tell males and females apart?)."
I agree, it's probably a juvenile, but I wasn't prepared to rule out adult female on those photos. HANZAB Vol.4 lists a number differences for Adult Female (from male) including - "......(3) red on undertail-coverts duller, generally much less extensive & sometimes absent; undertail can appear mainly yellow or green;......"