Put this also in Best Photos (sorry). All photos taken in the Dandenongs (Sth Vic) except the undershot closeup (last one) was taken in thickets at Port Fairy (SW Vic).
the following doesn't have the streaky markings on breast or behind the the eye- also more visible brown hood. Also was its habit was more ground dwelling than other thornbills around.
Hey were you having trouble posting that? I am getting sick of things posting twice when I get some message that says to reset or something. Or was this your mistake :)
haven't got a clue on your IDs sorry.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
It was accidental, the screen froze and I was re-freshing the page and going back. I definitely didn't mean to post it three times!
Oxalis is not my friend
Hey bushbirdnerd. Thornbills are the most difficult to identify and I wish I was present for talk given by Anna Lingus on the lyrebird walk.
I think number one (top photo) is a striated thornbill, it seems to have the distinguishing eyebrow and the markings on the breast are very prominant. Yellow rumped thornbills also have the eyebrow but you can usually tell them by their black and white forehead and yellow rump area (under the tail)
Number two seems a little smaller and has no obvious eyebrow, the breast markings still exist however seem to stop at the neck region; I would hazard to guess a brown thornbill
Number three is a little more difficult because the reflection in the water and the green foliage give the bird a more yellow appearance. The eyebrow is still very prominant so I would still lean towards a striated thornbill, however the tail markings may also indicate a yellow rumped thornbill. Maybe if you have another shot of that same bird, look at its forehead.... if it is black with white dots it is definately a yellow rumped.
The last shot is too difficult to ID because the bird is wet. It may have the distinct markings of the striated.... or they may just be wet feathers! Just at a guess, judging by the size and colour of the head and around the eye... I would say a brown thornbill with wet feathers.
Finally bird nerd. I have read a defining feature of the brown thornbill is a dark red eye..... good luck trying to get one to stand still long enough for you to check it out!
Ok I find that if you get the frozen screen when you have hit post, or in my case Mozilla says connection was rest , I just get out of it and open it again in new tab and hey presto ... there it is! If I refresh instead of doing that , it goes up twice.
There are some weird things happening on here lately.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks Birdie, it can be annoying!
Berldo, thankyou for the advice. I'd love Anna Lingus to be around to be help me with this one! If you look at he third photo it is definitely a different species to the the first one. Is the first photo a striated, brown thornbill or something else? Is the second photo a brown or buff-rumped? Is the third photo a yellow (is what I was leaning towards) or striated? The last photo is probably the same species as the first photo. Has anyone got a photo of a weebill? Berldo, you're right, thornbills probably give me the most trouble when identifying similar species.
Oxalis is not my friend
Okay birdnerd... I have been procrastinating over your shots and have responded under the best photo forum as well.
My final verdict.... no turning back
1. top photo - striated thornbill
2. second pic - brown thornbill
3. third pic - yellow thornbill (changed my mind on that one)
4. fourth pic - striated thornbill (the white travels too far up the neck to be a brown)
That is my final decision and I am by no means happy with it!!! Where is Anna Lingus when you need her, you should have taken notes to improve your technique!!! (that last comment was tongue in cheek by the way :) )