Hi All,
Here the winter flocks of Brown Gerygone, ssp richmondi, show a range of subtle plumage variations, including some very dark breasted & faced individuals. I’m interested in hearing from anyone who has seen darker than usual Brown Gerygones of this subspecies.
Any photos, particularly of a spread tail would also be interesting.
Spotted Harrier almost daily now, a winter visitor being seen more often here. Black Kites & Swift Parrot (heard) have moved through, and a pair of Hardheads occasionally using our dams/wetlands.
A European Goldfinch was an unusual sighting for here a few weeks ago.
Regards & Thanks,
Simon Clayton
Manager
Birdrangers, Gibraltar Reserve
Cangai, NSW, 2460
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Hi Simon,
It is interesting that you raise the question about the colour of Brown Gerygones now as I observed an unusual looking brown coloured gerygone at Coutts Crossing on Saturday. It was very white on the belly and the tail showed a large amount of white. The head colour and bill length didn’t seem quite right for a Brown Gerygone and I was wondering if it was a Western Gerygone. I wasn’t sure of the subtle differences at the time between the two species and the bird was silent so I will be chasing it up again when the rain stops. I have had Brown Gerygones at the site occasionally, despite it being dry open forest/woodland and not rainforest. It is probably a Brown Gerygone but I want to be sure. The amount of white in the tail seems to be the best distinguishing character between the two with the Brown having a white tipped tail and the Western also having a second white band closer to the base of the tail. If anyone knows of other distinguishing characters that can be seen in the field I would be keen to know about them.
Regards
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide | PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 | 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com