I'm hoping someone here can confirm my tentative ID on this bird.
I was first alerted by a loud single note that reminded me of a raptor cry. When I found the source I was astonished that so much volume could come from a relatively small bird. It was high in the treetops (dry schlerophyll forest, Central Tablelands, NSW).
At the time I guessed fan-tailed cuckoo which seemed to fit the description in my mum's bird book but looking at Simpson and Day now I'm not so sure.
Any theories?
A big call from those photos, could be a fan tail, could also be a brush.
Ed
Ed Townsville NQ
Well, I did say it was a tentative ID.
I wouldn't have been surprised if someone came back and said it wasn't a cuckoo at all.
My field guide says nothing about the fanning out of the tail. And a quick google didn't turn up any helpful images of fanned-out tails for comparison.
---booshkie---
Thanks Denis, very helpful indeed.
---booshkie---
I was looking to identify a bird in my backyard.
It is very similar to this, and I have a much better photo.
What really puzzled me though was that it is eating berries. I thought the cuckoo family were insectivores mainly.
Can't see what to do to show you the photo.
Here, put this in your browser bar, and you will see a picture of the cuckoo.
http://www.webgooroo.com.au/images/coucal-sm.jpg
Hi Honeyman (that seems wrong!!)
That's a Koel, light form, young female I'd say.
Ed Townsville NQ
Thanks for that Ed, now I Googled Koel and I understand.
I live in Fitzgibbon, Brisbane, next to a section of Cabbagetree Creek which has not yet been denuded by the city council of shelter for wildlife.
Another part of the creek where I was walking one recent morning stunk of weedkiller, all vegetation dead. No wildlife there.
I used to be a commercial beekeeper, hence the "Honeyman".