Help identify plain grey bird

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magpie
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Help identify plain grey bird

Can someone tell me what this bird is, its driving me nuts.
Spotted last week in Kuringai Chase Nat. Park

I'm guessing its a female.. is it a type of Whistler?
I've been studying my field guide but just can not match it!

Holly
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It looks a bit grey to be a female golden whistler to me (I am very likely wrong though).

Jacky Winter? Though a strange place for one.

magpie
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Jacky Winter is smaller than this, this bird was just a bit smaller than a Noisy Miner.
Also notice smaller beak on jacky winter:
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=373

I am thinking female Golden Whistler too but awaiting confirmation :)

Holly
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Yes I thought the beak might also be a bit light for a Jacky Winter.

Golden Whistlers are somewhat common in that area I believe so it is likely to be a female.

magpie
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I couldnt get close enough to see under the tail.

Does anyone else know?

Gelmir
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It certainly looks like a female Golden Whistler. We do get lots of them on the Northern Beaches, however, I am yet to see a jacky winter here.

soakes
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It looks like a grey shrike-thrush to me. Beautiful birds. Does it have a loud, melodious call?

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

Lannie
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I agree with soakes. Grey shrike-thrush....and don't they have a lovely call!
Lannie

soakes
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Here is a picture of one on my feeder:

These birds are not always all grey. They have some brown on them as well. I will try to find a better pic and post it.

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

soakes
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Try again:

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

magpie
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It probably is a Grey Shrike-thrush
The singing was quite melodious, although the male (I assume) she was calling to had an even more melodious song.

Then again this could be a male, just noticed that both sexes are similar colour.

soakes
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Yes, both sexes look the same. I can't tell them apart, and I have seen a lot of these birds at my property.

They have a large variety of calls (the example on this site is not among the best IMHO) and are very active and bright-eyed. Most books I have seen say they eat mainly insects and grubs and only occasionally eat seeds, but they seem to spend a lot of time on my feeder! They also have a method of breaking seeds by attacking them using their bill as a dagger - quite worth seeing!

I couldn't find a better pic... :-(

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

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