Saw these two birds at Mount Annan Botanic Gardens yesterday. I think the first two are a female Rufous Whistler & I was wondering if the third was a female golden whistler? Thank you
Donna
| Term and Conditions | Privacy Statement | Web Support by Gaia Resources Hosted by Serversaurus |  |
I think they're all Rufous Whistlers.
Donna - I think you were spot on.
First two are definitely Rufous. I guess the third one is open for debate. I think it's probably a Golden, as it has a very very slight yellow tinge on the breast and lacks any rufous colouring. I have seen both Rufous and Golden in at Mt Annan before, literally in the same tree, so wouldn't be surprised if they were together again.
I have attached a couple of photos - first two of Rufous female, and the last one of Golden female/imm. All taken in Mt Annan.
Dave
Dave, Sydney.
Thanks Nathan and Dave. great photos Dave.
Thanks Nathan and Dave. great photos Dave.
You're right there Dave,I forgot that all Rufous's had some rufous colouring on their feathers, unlike Goldens.
The main thing you look for in female Golden Whistler is the yellow tint on the undertail and also the white-ish throat with very fine horizontal barring... The bird in your last photo looks a bit scruffy and still shows a lighter colour to the gape and base of the bill, which suggests young bird. It is starting to show a bit of yellow tint on the undertail, but doesn't appear to have developed that throat pattern yet, so I'm going with a young female Golden Whistler. Although, given the location, the race that occurs there is race youngi (coincidence?) which seems to lack the yellow tint (or either has a very slight colour) even in the adults...
Brandon (aka ihewman)