Can someone tell me what this bird is, its driving me nuts.
Spotted last week in Kuringai Chase Nat. Park
I'm guessing its a female.. is it a type of Whistler?
I've been studying my field guide but just can not match it!
Help identify plain grey bird
Fri, 24/10/2008 - 20:28
#1
magpie
Help identify plain grey bird
It looks a bit grey to be a female golden whistler to me (I am very likely wrong though).
Jacky Winter? Though a strange place for one.
Jacky Winter is smaller than this, this bird was just a bit smaller than a Noisy Miner.
Also notice smaller beak on jacky winter:
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=373
I am thinking female Golden Whistler too but awaiting confirmation :)
Yes I thought the beak might also be a bit light for a Jacky Winter.
Golden Whistlers are somewhat common in that area I believe so it is likely to be a female.
I couldnt get close enough to see under the tail.
Does anyone else know?
It certainly looks like a female Golden Whistler. We do get lots of them on the Northern Beaches, however, I am yet to see a jacky winter here.
It looks like a grey shrike-thrush to me. Beautiful birds. Does it have a loud, melodious call?
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
I agree with soakes. Grey shrike-thrush....and don't they have a lovely call!
Lannie
Here is a picture of one on my feeder:
These birds are not always all grey. They have some brown on them as well. I will try to find a better pic and post it.
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
Try again:
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
It probably is a Grey Shrike-thrush
The singing was quite melodious, although the male (I assume) she was calling to had an even more melodious song.
Then again this could be a male, just noticed that both sexes are similar colour.
Yes, both sexes look the same. I can't tell them apart, and I have seen a lot of these birds at my property.
They have a large variety of calls (the example on this site is not among the best IMHO) and are very active and bright-eyed. Most books I have seen say they eat mainly insects and grubs and only occasionally eat seeds, but they seem to spend a lot of time on my feeder! They also have a method of breaking seeds by attacking them using their bill as a dagger - quite worth seeing!
I couldn't find a better pic... :-(
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia