Rawnsley’s Bowerbird

My attention has been brought to an interesting photo on Facebook – I think it was posted on Saturday (11th October). Apparently it has been taken in the vicinity of Coffs Harbour. If this is genuine which it appears to be, it will be probably only be the third time a bird such as this has been recorded. The original bird was collected near Brisbane on 14 July, 1867 by Henry Rawnsley. A second bird was seen and photographed at Beachmont (near Binna Burra) south of Brisbane during 2003 & 2004. So if this is from Coffs Harboour, it makes it all the more interesting. Cliff Frith and Daniel Blunt have a good article in Australian Field Ornithology – 22:2:53 on Rawnsley’s Bowerbird It is presumed that Rawnsleys Bowerbird is a hybrid between Satin and Regent which has to be the case. However, it is interesting that all three birds seem to be similarly marked with yellow generally confined to the primaries. Really worth looking at! The link is – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=833465676685002&set=o.173561852669263&type=1&permPage=1 Lloyd Nielsen Mt Molloy, Nth Qld www.birdingaustralia.com.au