Hello Again.
I came across this bird recently and really cannot find a photo on the internet that matches, the closes one is a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (dark morph). First 2 photos.
5 minutes after taking these photos I actually photographed a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.
Last photo.
Wait for more experienced people but i think they are all white-bellied.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Knowing the location often helps with identification but I'd say White-bellied Cuckoo-shirke.
I'll third White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.
Besides regular & dark morphs, White-bellied have a wide variety of intermediate morphs. I've seen one looking just like an adult Black-faced.
The relative bill size is useful for separating Whilte-bellied from Black-faced, with Black-faced having a relatively larger bill compared to White-bellied. Also White-bellied often have the parital white eye-ring, which can be seen in above photos, I think not present in Black-faced?
Thanks for all your replies.
Hi SteveM,
I tried comparing the bills of the 2 and it looks as though the White-bellied has a slightly longer and straighter beak.
As I search once again to compare the beaks I came across a Bushpea's comparsion.
Here is a link to Bushpea which has got the side by side comparsions.
http://www.bushpea.com/bd/pg/all/b/black-faced%20cuckoo-shrike%2002.html
Thanks for the beak tip, came in really useful in deciding.
So I agree it definitely looks like a White-bellied (dark morph) Cuckoo-shrike.
I will throw it up on Eremaea Birdlines and the moderator can have the last say.
Cheers
Paul
Kippa-ring, Qld.
Paul - you still didn't advise location of the bird, eg if you were in Albany, WA it is definitely a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Peter
Sorry about that.
I don't know why, where or what state a person lives, isn't below the users name?
The location is Sheep Station Creek Conservation Park, Caboolture, Qld.
I have submitted it to Birdline, Eremaea.
So we see what the Moderator has to say about it.
Thanks again to all replies.
Cheers
Paul
Kippa-ring, Qld.
Paul
Sheep Station Creek CP is a good place and you should add greatly to your list with regular walks there
I am referring to the location of the bird not your house, eg I live at Scarborough, Redcliffe Peninsula, Qld and currently work in Parkes, NSW and recently posted pics taken at Gluepot Reserve, SA - I hope that explanation helps
I believe that you can add your home suburb through 'My Account' at the very top of the page - just checked - use the Edit tab and look for signature towards the bottom of the page
Peter
Hi Paul,
I had a look at the Bushpea web link. I think the composite comparison photo, at the top left, is a little misleading in that the White-bellied in that particular shot does appear to have a longish bill compared to the adjacent Black-faced. I think in general the bill on White-bellied's is shortish & less chunky relative to their head size when compared to a Black-faced.
Also on that same web page, in the group of photos on the right, the bird at the top middle labelled 'Black-faced or White-bellied', - with that big chunky bill, it's a definite young Black-faced. And the bird in middle 2nd row down labelled 'immature Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike', in my a opinion is a intermediate morph White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, and the last photo(middle bottom) is the same mis-labelled White-bellied.
Re location: I agree with Woko & Peter in that giving location is always good, but disagree with Peter about your bird being a Black-faced if it was in Albany. If it was in Albany, I would say it is a way out of range White-bellied.
Hello Again,
SteveM,
I agreed that the Black-faced do appear to have a bulkier beak.
(in the group of photos on the right, the bird at the top middle labelled 'Black-faced or White-bellied', - with that big chunky bill, it's a definite young Black-faced.)
That is the one he has labelled as a immature Black-faced in the comparsion photos, it's just a cropped shot.
(And the bird in middle 2nd row down labelled 'immature Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike', in my a opinion is a intermediate morph White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, and the last photo(middle bottom) is the same mis-labelled White-bellied.)
It is the same bird.
That is a tough one, too me the beak does look like a Black-faced one.
But with a cross breed the beak gene could have transferred as well and appears in later generations.
Pacman (Peter),
I happen to live at Kippa-ring, Redcliffe Peninsula, Qld.
I see what you mean about being in completely different locations.
I have add my Suburb in my signature. Thanks for that info.
Cheers
Paul
Kippa-ring, Qld.
First impression - WBCS. Lorne