Hi
I'm wondering if anyone could help with an ID of this bird call (in the video)
(Call at about 6 and 14 seconds and at the end. You might have to crank up the volume)
It has been calling last couple weeks I think, always one of the first about 6am. I'm located in the Huon Valley, Tasmania.
Any thoughts? I'm stumped!
ok not sure if the attaching the video worked...... it's on Youtube at https://youtu.be/5NE0XlkxLcA
I don't know either. It does sound like a raptor but I don't know anything about them, let alone what time they're awake in the mornings. If it turns out to be a raptor, the calls you recorded are probably it's "I'm awake now" morning calls. See if you can hear or see any bird after the sun has come up that sounds similiar. If you hear a bird call that sounds really similar to the sound you recorded there's a good chance it may be the same bird but you really have to listen for it. Give it a try and see what you come up with.
I'm at Tenterfield, NSW. (Formerly known as "Hyperbirds".)
Can't positively ID your bird, can hear Forest Raven and either a currawong or butcher bird as well. Thinking Grey Shrike Thrush but not sure. Maybe variation of Currawong call. Is the tractor a Fergie?
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Z,
That is a really interesting call and its bugging me that I can't ID it...hopefully someone else can.
Initially I thought it is the start of a Whistling Kite call, but it is strange that it then doesn't continue on with its normal call. The other bird it reminded me of was an African Fish Eagle...wrong continent though!
I've listened. It is not something I am familiar with, but it could well be an Accipitrid (hawk type raptor). A couple of weeks ago I was checking one of the two WBSE nests I know in my area of its progress and had the female eagle making high-pitched hawk-like calls that I've never heard before. There is a chance this downward whistle (which is uncanniliy familiar to a male Sooty Owl I know in the Blue Mountains, although his call is more drawn out) belongs to a White-bellied Sea Eagle (WBSE). I've sent your file link to the right people in raptor world for comments.
A friend already responded saying he'd have to check that Yellow-throated Honeyeater make a call like that.
Check the species' call online and come back with your thoughts.
Thanks heaps for all the comments.
A bit more info for you:
Yes there's a Grey Currawong calling around the same time, and I did wonder if it could possibly be the same bird making this noise but I don't think so. GC's call a LOT here and are always around and if it's them it must be something they only do at that time (of the year and day).
(tractor? I think it's our composting toilet fan you can hear ;)
It did remind me a lot of the Whistling Kite first note too. But I've never heard it make the rest of the call, in fact never heard a WK here ever (not sure if they occur this far West in Tassie?)
The raptors I know we do have here are the Grey Goshawk, the Wedgetail Eagle and what I thought was the Brown Falcon (but not so sure it's not a peregrine or australian hobby). I once saw what I think could have been a collared sparrowhawk.
I will look into the possibility of some sort of owl.
We're about 20km from the coast so I don't think it could be a sea eagle?
Yellow Throated Honeyeater are definitely in the area, and I thought I heard them starting up their trilling call just recently. I didn't hear them calling around the time of that mystery call but maybe they only do that one note thing at 6am? I'm not sure if it's still calling now - I'll have another listen tomorrow.
While I am not sure of the call, in general terms, White-bellied Sea Eagles can live a long way from the coast. In fact, some have been seen over 300km inland. As long as there's water in the way of large dams, lakes or rivers etc they may just be in an area.
I live at least 55km from the beaches (not as far from the upper ends of the Parramatta River) and we have at least three pairs of WBSE living along my home stretch of the Nepean River. And they're even further in from that. They're seen up in the Blue Mountains and beyond.
Hope you nail it down. I will have a listen to my recordings for the Yellow-throated Honeyeater at home later on.
It's not an owl. That I can tell you for sure. You'd only get the Southern Boobook and the Masked Owl and neither of those make any sound like what's at the 6 and 14 second mark. That I can tell you for certain.
Have heard Whistling Kites very similar to this.
agree, I have sightings from Forbes and Griffith, NSW
Peter
I was advised it is definitely not a WBSE. So there.
Possibly some passerine bird then. Maybe try to sight it if possible.
Righto apparently it IS a particular call of the Grey Currawong, so well spotted Dale.
I KNEW it wouldn't be a new bird, grrrr !