I saw this little lady at Oxley Creek (Brisbane) today and can't distinguish easily between the Leaden and Satin flycatchers.
My feeling is towards the Satin Flycatcher, just because it's slightly on the darker side, but I'd love any tips or suggestions others have.
I also saw the most beautiful tiny, fluffy, tail-less Red-backed Fairy Wrens still with the soft gapes of chicks. They must have been only days or weeks old I suspect.
It look like a Satin to me too
I'd love to see the photos of the babys if you have some
I've posted this before... relying on colour for identification is not accurate when it comes to Satin and Leaden FC as Leaden FC's true leaden colour is only visible in perfect light, etc. In your photo, it appears to be overcast... Although, one positive ID key is to look at the tail... in both sexes, the tail of Satin FC is darker coloured than Leaden FC. If you want to be certain of your identification, the calls are completely different so, if you can, learn the calls. That way your identifications will never be wrong.
Brandon (aka ihewman)
Thanks for that Brandon. That's good info to know. The light was definitely not perfect as it was late in the afternoon and fairly shaded, though not overcast. I actually think the photo is darker than it looked to the eye as well.
As far as ID by call, just one question... how do I get them to call on command?
This one was totally silent and just flitting around between the trees.
Hmmm, comparison is tough too when you don't have both birds, but I will see if I have any shots showing the tail. Otherwise,I guess I'll just have to make a call on it (and probably assume it's the more common of the two if I can't be sure).
Sorry, Elsie, my camera battery went flat immediately after this pic, so I missed catching the baby wrens.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Thats sad
But I bet it was a great experience seeing them!
Timmo
Iam not sure myself and have a book on robins & flycatchers. It talks about problems of identification. THe Satin and Leaden flycatchers differ significantly in their habitat preferences. As a rule the former occurs in wet, denser [not rainforest] often at high elevations. It avoids drier country to such an extent that it is virtually confined to the eastern side of the central peaks of the Great Dividing Range. The Leaded flycatcher decreases in abundance southwards while satin becomes more an more common.It also said that the Leaden frequently shivers tail. Hope this is a little help, as to were you may live maybe ?
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
Thanks for that Darin.
That prompted me to get out my Reader's Digest bird book (which I completely forgot about, even though next to all my other bird books).
It is very much in agreeance with what you said - Satins in eucalypt forest in taller, wetter gullies, Leadens in generally scrubbier drier euc and paperbark forests.
On that basis I am going with Leaden flycatcher, as Oxley Ck area (in Brisbane) is relatively dry, low, scrubby and mix of eucs, acacias and paperbarks, rather than wetter tall stuff.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
BTW, both species quivers their tails... Leaden FC does it more often.
Brandon (aka ihewman)
I found this post very useful since I've been trying to ID a local Leaden or Satin FC. As mentioned, it's very difficult to compare when you've only seen one of the species.
One thing not mentioned here that I picked up from Simpson & Day Field Guide is that Leaden FC has Lores (region bw eyes and nostrils) often darker than the face. This is for the yorki race in Qld anyway.
Was spot on from what I saw this morning through the binoculars and was the clincher for me. Cheers!