I live next to Mt Buffalo NP in NE Victoria. Today's trek to the vege garden (sans camera) revealed a flurry in my orange tree. Looking a bit dishevelled when he landed on a nearby roost, was a bird I had never seen before. My first thought was pigeon (size and brownish colour) although we don't get many. But the head was really quite big (so I thought cuckoo), but then again the beak was short and almost flat (like a parrot!). It had a distinctive bronze band around its neck and, on closer inspection, it had a couple of white spots(?) on its back. Sat there for just long enough to completely confuse me, then disappeared.
Any brilliant suggestions? I've searched my bird book, this site and others ..... no joy.
So I can sleep tonight, someone please put me out of my misery. Many thanks, Susie.
Hmm, gosh it sounds like a confusing bird! With the bronze ring around it's neck maybe look up a bar-shouldered dove? Though i'm not too sure if they are in your area. Sorry i'm not much help!
Maybe a Female Eastern Koel?
Nope, not a koel (beak is all wrong) and not a dove (beak again). The real identifying feature was the band around it's neck, which was clearly all the way around and a bronze colour. Thankyou, but no joy yet :(
BloozSooz
Hi Susie, could it have been a Collared Sparrowhawk?
LM
Here is the photo of a bar shouldered dove.
According to my Birds of Australia App that would be about their limit south but should be there.
But from your description, I recon that LM has it with the Collard Sparrowhawk.
Hope this helps.