Hopefully I got this one right ... according to the book I think it's a Common Starling. Ad. (post moult) Non breeding. I've never seen this bird in such detail, only from a distance when they appear just black. Not sure what's meant by "non breeding" though ... how else could it perpetuate the species? Taken this morning.
When looked at through your pics they are quite a beautiful bird Tark.
Its a shame that between them and the Indian Mynah they have managed to force a lot of our native birds out of their habitats.
As said Tassie, I really had no idea what bird it was until my lady looked it up for me. I was quite surprised at how beautiful they are ... I've always said that the only difference between a weed and flower is prevalence. I have a couple of others to upload but may have to wait 'til morning as the network gets jammed with rugrats from now til midnight.
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
Forgot to mention, I don't think we have any Indian Mynahs here in Tas, but I do remember them from Melbourne.
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
Could not agree more Tark,they are a stunning looking bird.
Nice shots mate.
Thanks mate. :-)
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
I reckon starlings are beautiful looking birds as well.
nice photos..
Nice pics Tark, i remember the Starling as a black bird with white dots all over it.The one you captured is quite stunning.
Thanks Raoul. A stunning bird indeed. Their markings put me in mind of Maori tattos. Maybe they originally migrated across the Tasman.
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
haven't seen this bird yet, you got good details and colors here tark....top stuff mate :)
Thanks aa. But for the record it seems that I've misunderstood what the good lady told me. (she does the field guide research because she's good at it!) This is a breeding bird. The non-breeding one has a dark beak - although I still don't know how a non breeding bird can exist ... I'm sure there's a simple answer.
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
Stevehapp, thanks for your comment mate, sorry I overshot it, please forgive. :-)
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
Hi Tark
No-one has responded top your very first comment about "non-breeding" plumage.
Firstly, it is a seasonal moult, not just relating to "maturity" (think of Superb Fairy Wrens as a case in point - only the really old ones maintain their blue feathers all year). In other words sexually mature birds go in and out of breeding plumage.
Secondly, your birds are in Breeding plumage, with the wash of purple iridescence. They lose that sheen in winter and get a fawn colour on top.
Birdpedia says:
Adults: Sexes alike, female slightly duller. Breeding: Black all over with a green and purple iridescence except for brown wash on tail and wings. Eye, brown. Bill, yellow. Feet, dirty brown.
Non-breeding: Speckled buff above and white below over black. Bill, dull brown.
Source:http://www.birdpedia.com/au/bi.dll/bipu02?m=006_01&id505=1000000186
Hope that clears up any confusion.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
That's a nice series of shots, Tark. They're very sharp and nicely exposed. The Starling is a good-looking bird even if it is an "illegal immigrant". Are the shots full frame ?
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Cheers,
.
George
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
Tark - your photo has really brought up the colours and markings. I have seen the green and purple sheen in the sunlight, but I have not seen a starling this close. I do not like them at all though - we have had years without rosellas being able to nest in our rosella box because starlings and Indian mynas took over. Some misguided individuals brought them into Australia to kill insects - a decision of the same quality as the one to introduce cane toads.
Denis - thanks for the reference - I have saved it as a favourite - it looks very useful
Thanks for the info Denis. Now I‘ve learnt that birds go in and out of plumage when it’s mating season. That makes sense I suppose as males seek to attract a female. With humans it seems to happen in reverse. So presumably birds are at their finest in late winter or early spring, and at their dowdiest in autumn, right?
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Thanks birdgirl. Well I suppose that anything introduced be it birds, humans, fish into rivers or ships in the sea has to displace something – sad though it may be. It’s just nature’s law of survival. Although I must agree, the introduction of cane toads into Oz was not one of man’s better ideas in modifying the environment.
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Thanks Denis. All of the shots are 100% crops. To fill the frame with a *600mm focal length lens, one would have to be about 10 feet from a bird that size. In this instance, 50 feet was a guesstimate but it was more likely closer to 60ft . Anyway, here is the full frame shot from which the crop was taken:
And BTW, did you see the picture of my car you asked about in my Black Currawong post?
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour