Hi, I saw a bird in Berowra, Northern Sydney, today that I have never seen before. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me, but hopefully somebody may recognise my description.
The bird was medium size, around the size of a Kookaburra, or maybe a bit larger. The body was grey, from what I could see the upper body was a darker grey than the lower. It was a pigeonish type of shape, but with quite a long redish bill.
When seen the bird was around 50m up in a gum tree feeding on the flowers.
I have gone through my bird identifaction book and connot see anything like this. Any ideas on what it might be?
Regards
David
I am thinking it could have been an adult Olive-backed Oriole. Depending on how you viewed it it can look all shades of grey, even though they are not. The size and the bill length and color were clues. If you look up towards the sky and into sun or white cloud you will have trouble making out the true colors.
Thanks Windhover,
While it was probably closer to 20 m than 50m up, certainly it was some distance away and I was looking up into the sky, so the colours were pretty hard to pick up.
Could it have been topknot pigeon as the size is right and the bill is red, they like the very high gum trees?
Check this and see if it looks like it
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/messages.cfm?threadid=CD20FC45-F6D1-DA9A-8422F40566726A27
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks Birdie, the size and shape are about right, but the beak appeared to be quite a bit longer on the bird I saw.