Hi everyone!
I did a search with your birdfinder but couldnt id this bird. I am sure it is a very common bird around Broome but the few people I have asked around here, don't know, obviously not asking very birdy people.
Anyway appreciate any help.
| Term and Conditions | Privacy Statement | Web Support by Gaia Resources Hosted by Serversaurus |  |
I would say it's a Tern, might be a Sooty Tern? (but as always
, not too sure, don't take my word for it, let's wait what others think)
M-L
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }
Yes! Thats it! Thank you very much! :)
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }
Yes! Thats it! Thank you very much! :)
It's a Bridled Tern - note the white band on the forehead is narrow & extends past the eye. On Sooty Tern the white patch on the forehead is broader (goes further up the forehead) & stops above the middle of the eye. Also for Bridled - note the contrast between the black on the head & the rest of the upperparts which are a duller grey brown. On Sooty the upperparts are darker overall & little contrast with the black on the head.
Thanks for the explanation Steve, I was looking at the white band on the forehead for a while, I knew that's where the difference was. But still got it wrong
, sorry heymanz
M-L
Wow you guys certainly know your birds, thanks very much for sharing your knowledge :) Amanda
Are these birds normally tame to people? This one was just sitting on the beach and didnt fly off as I walked past it. I walked back to the car, grabbed my camera hoping it would still be there. While I was taking the photos it let me get incredibly close to it and I wondered whether it was injured as it didnt move but I didnt want to touch it or stress it out.
Good question, Amanda.
The bird might have been tamed by people artificially feeding it (shame on them!) although if that had been the case I would have expected the bird to have approached you expecting to be fed.
Or, as you say, it might have been injured in which case it might have been in shock. Birds that hit house windows & survive usually sit quietly for some time before recovering.
Had there been a severe storm/cyclone shortly before you saw this bird? If so, it might have been weakened by efforts to stay aloft or injured in the maelstrom.
Another possibility that I can think of is that it had never seen a human before & therefore you weren't on its threat radar.
Or it could have been a young bird awaiting the arrival of its parent to feed it in which case you were wise not to have intervened.
Lastly, it may have been poisoned by the toxins we humans carefully pour into the environment (shame on us!).
Amanda. No, Terns are not normally tame. The dropped wing & tatty appearance makes me think this bird is exhausted, starving, sick or injured.
Woko, it's not a young one, they look quite different. This is adult plumage.
There was a storm brewing so it might have been caught up in it, hopefully it was resting. Thanks for all your input. :)