Hi everyone,
A few of us have been discussing the identity of a bird photographed on our trip to Cue at Easter this year. I didn’t see it in the field as I’d wandered off, but I’m pretty sure I know what it is. But it would be nice to hear a few other opinions – the photo can be seen at https://picasaweb.google.com/101486094752558106417/MysteryBirds#5662099101829842786 (hopefully the link goes through all right)
Cheers, John ===============================
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Here is an email that I sent privately to Greg earlier today. My comments about Spinifexbirds have since been supported independently by those of Jeff and John.
Cheers, Stephen
Hi Phil (& others),
This thread seems to have a new lease on life! Below is a response I sent offline to a couple of people re. the possibility of Spinifexbird with a couple of additions “Thanks for your thoughts. It does look similar to a Spinifexbird, and this was mentioned in our initial discussions on the ID. However, I feel the tail details don’t quite fit [Jeff has probably described this better] – it appears relatively too short, and lacks the barring on the undertail (see http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/spinifexbird-eremiornis-carteri/distant-bird-perched for comparison). Additionally, the Cue area would be well out of range for Spinifexbird [Rufous Songlark were around], and the habitat was mulga scrub with little groundcover, and definitely no spinifex. Also the bird was photographed at the top of a dead mulga – whilst Spinifexbird does like to pop up into low bushes, they rarely seem to venture much higher than a metre or so off the ground [in my experience].”
So whilst the shape may be slightly atypical for Rufous Songlark (depending on who you ask!), I think it is also wrong for a Spinifexbird, and it would be far more likely to have a slightly odd Rufous Songlark at the site (particularly judging from one photo – unfortunately I don’t think there are any others), than to have an odd-looking Spinifexbird well out of range in unusual habitat exhibiting atypical behaviour (perching atop a fairly tall mulga). I would be wary of judging the darkness of the bird too much off a single photo, as I suspect it will vary depending on lighting. I’m still of the firm opinion that it’s a Rufous Songlark – however, I’ve asked the two people who saw it if they can add anything about behaviour, which may further clarify.
Also agree with Phil (and one of the commentators on the page itself) that the bird at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alwyn_simple/3592076598/ is a Rufous Songlark rather than a Spinifexbird
Always good to have a decent ID discussion!
Cheers, John
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G’day Ross and Greg,
The bird is in tail moult, central feathers missing, but the tail is totally wrong shape for Spinfexbird in my opinion, which has a more graduated tail and spectacularly long tail coverts ah la Locustella Warbler. The tail effectively merges into the contours of the body on a Spifexbird via the coverts. This must aid squeezing through tight Spinifex, they almost seem to swim through the Spinfex tussock using legs to push. The tarsus is also wrong on this bird, too long, but structurally everything is in place for a Rufous Songlark.
Cheers Jeff.
http://worldbirds.eu/abcs/spinifexbird.htm http://www.flickr.com/photos/alwyn_simple/3592076598/ http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/spinifexbird-eremiornis-carteri/distant-bird-perched
I’m convinced…
Although I have never seen a Spinifexbird in the wild I also firstly thought of that species. The tail appears too long for a Rufous Songlark. It is very dark for a Rufous Songlark and the photo of the Spinifexbird in the Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds show a dark bird like the one in the photo.
Regards
Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy Ecologist and Wildlife Guide Coutts Crossing NSW
Thanks everyone for the flood of responses, I haven’t been able to get back to everyone individually.
The general consensus is Rufous Songlark, which was also my identification.
Thanks again, John
Hi everyone,
A few of us have been discussing the identity of a bird photographed on our trip to Cue at Easter this year. I didn’t see it in the field as I’d wandered off, but I’m pretty sure I know what it is. But it would be nice to hear a few other opinions – the photo can be seen at https://picasaweb.google.com/101486094752558106417/MysteryBirds#5662099101829842786 (hopefully the link goes through all right)
Cheers, John
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================