Hi everyone
I think this is a Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike, not the best photos as it kept flitting around the tree too fast for my lens to focus.
And then it had to stick it's head behind a small twig in the best side shot I managed to get.
Image matches photo in my "Fleurieu Birds" by Peter Gower, and similar to the image on Bird Finder.
How did I do with identifying it?
I'm in Victoria Point Qld, although Bird Finder says it is common mostly all over the country.
Thanks
Chris
Hmmm,I have tears running down my cheek from focussing hard on your bird. I think, the back of it's head is dark too? The Cuckoo-shrike only has a black face. Anyway, very hard to tell Chris, and you might be right. I need new glasses
M-L
Thanks M L - sorry about the poor first photo - (you probably don't need new glasses)
I though also at first glance that the head was dark, but at the time it was looking away and down, so on studying my original photo the head is grey on top. The black above it is something else in the foliage - maybe an old seed pod.
There is a tiny bit of black showing the side of the bird's face just above it's left shoulder. I really only included that shot to show the back and tail feathers, sorry about making you get teary eyes.
It didn't move on the perch, just swivelled around and grabbed something on the other side of the upwards branch as per the second and third photos. (same photo, just cropped a bit and then the original)
I can make out the beak open and reaching for something in those two.
When I look above the middle of the bird's back in the second photo, I can see the blackish bit of foliage which initially looks like the colour of it's head.
Thanks for your input.
Chris
I think they are Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike
It is very hard to tell from these pics.
You could be right, as they're pretty commonly seen around Brissie.
They are usually/often seen in bare branches and on telephone poles and wires, as they seem to prefer open and high vantage points.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
A characteristic behaviour of the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike is the flick of the wings upon alighting.