Hello everyone, was wondering if anyone could help me ID this bird call. It sounded like it was being played in a duet, one bird making a chirrping kind of trill and it was answered by another bird some distance away with a distinctive, quick two-not, bell like: 'ding-ding' call. This duet was repeated after very short intervals.
The bird was heard in Fairfield, South-Western Sydney.
Thanks in advance.
Whereabouts in Fairfield did you hear the birds? I hear Bell Miner calls driving beside the railway between Fairfield and Canley Vale. They call all day whenever I drive past the area.
I never got to actually see them but their call is pretty distinctive and I'm pretty sure it is them. I've never heard/seen Bell Miners anywhere else.
Taz
I heard it along the Horsley drive which is along the railway. The creek must attract them to that area because there is not much habitat any were else around there.
I have heard bell miners before but these birds seemed to be singing in a duet. Do bell miners do that?
Thanks Tazrandus.
You're welcome cooee :)
I've heard the bell miners interchange their individual "chime" between each individual in the flock. If there were only two birds that would be a duet. I'm guessing that is possible but best to confirm with other members who have more frequent sightings of the birds.
So true about the very sparse habitable area. But the creek is a very ideal place for them.
Taz
A two note trill that is responded to sounds like a fan-tailed cuckoo to me, but it is not really a bell sound. Try this link for the audio http://birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/cacomantis-flabelliformis.mp3
The first note sounds very much like the cuckoo! But the bell sound was completely different to it. Maybe they where not doing a duet and where singing at the same time??? I haven't heard the bird since though so I will just have to be patient and listen. Thanks.
Forgot to say that ironically I saw for the first time a fan tailed cuckoo. But it did not call and I saw it in a place far away from their so proves nothing.