Fairy or Tree Martin or one of each?

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Reflex
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Fairy or Tree Martin or one of each?

I believe the bird on the left is a Fairy Martin and the bird on the right is a Tree Martin (black crown instead of ginger crown)?

 There was quite a few birds using this tree at Sandy Camp Road, on 30-Dec-2015 SE Qld.

teganb02
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I agree with you

Tegan - Melbourne Vic.

HelloBirdy
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Seems right

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

Elsie
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Yes! How cool to get both of them in the same shot! Sweet pic by the way :)

Reflex
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Thanks for the replies everyone.

Samford Valley Qld.

TheBirdLover
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I'm a bit late now but I just wanted to comment on such a cute photo, Reflex. I agree with Elsie that you're quite lucky to get two different Martins so close in one picture.

M.M.

Reflex
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TheBirdLover wrote:

I'm a bit late now but I just wanted to comment on such a cute photo, Reflex. I agree with Elsie that you're quite lucky to get two different Martins so close in one picture.

I'm not sure that's the case TBL.

Since I took these photographs this morning from what I have read it appears it is not that unusual. Maybe it's unusual that it's recognised and because they tend to fly higher when feeding is less noticeable. It also appears the Tree Martin is the one who takes opportunities to the extent that it even nests in unoccupied old Fairy Martin nests. The "squatters" of the Swallows world?

Samford Valley Qld.

HelloBirdy
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Reflex wrote:

Since I took these photographs this morning from what I have read it appears it is not that unusual. Maybe it's unusual that it's recognised and because they tend to fly higher when feeding is less noticeable. It also appears the Tree Martin is the one who takes opportunities to the extent that it even nests in unoccupied old Fairy Martin nests. The "squatters" of the Swallows world?

That's quite interesting. The other day, my sister took a photo of a martin peering out of a Fairy Martin Nest- which turned out to be a Tree Martin. Could you post a link to the reference you found describing this as I am curious

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

TheBirdLover
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Reflex wrote:
TheBirdLover wrote:

I'm a bit late now but I just wanted to comment on such a cute photo, Reflex. I agree with Elsie that you're quite lucky to get two different Martins so close in one picture.

I'm not sure that's the case TBL.

Since I took these photographs this morning from what I have read it appears it is not that unusual. Maybe it's unusual that it's recognised and because they tend to fly higher when feeding is less noticeable. It also appears the Tree Martin is the one who takes opportunities to the extent that it even nests in unoccupied old Fairy Martin nests. The "squatters" of the Swallows world?

Ok that is very interesting...I never knew that this was not unusual. I still learn something everyday!

M.M.

Reflex
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HelloBirdy wrote:

Could you post a link to the reference you found describing this as I am curious

 

 I read about this in the Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight Field Guide to the Birds of Australia on page 504. Hope this helps.

Samford Valley Qld.

pacman
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interesting as I have been sorting pics for my smugmug site and have a Fairy Martin - Welcome Swallow pic from Lake Cargelligo in Nov '13 - maybe the Fairy Martins are gregarious

Peter

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