Hi I am up in Bright Vic. and on my evening walk with the dogs along the river I spotted three or four large birds in the trees by the path edge, they were very gregarious, lots of swooping and hopping along the branches, seemed like they were having a game of chase. They had a loud trill like call.
They were about wattle bird size but much stockier, breast was speckled or scaly, and when flying towards me wings outstretched ...appeared olive coloured. Mainly hopping and chasing on the branches but some ungainly 'diving' to the ground.
As it was about 6.30pm I don't anticipate pics to be any good and can't convert them till I get the RAW converter software onto this laptop.... so for now it's description only I'm afraid.....
satin Bowerbirds?
Ed Townsville NQ
Hi Heva
I agree with Ed.
Hopping - that's a feature of Satin Bowerbirds.
Also the group behaviour, and the olive in the wings is a match. Actually I would say bronze, but still, it is close.
Juveniles and females. You need to see the beak to tell the difference. Bone white for males not yet transitioned into the "blue bird" plumage. See my "head shots".
http://peonyden.blogspot.com/2009/08/satin-bowerbird-likes-apples.html
They have a vast range of calls, noises, trills, whistles, growls, and scratching noises. That's in addition to mimicking other birds.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
hi Ed and denis, thanks for that, yes a Satin Bowerbird, went back the following evening and they were there again, very active, hopping and also got to hear more of their calls, quite a repertoire for sure Denis.
Each time they hopped or sprung to another tree I did notice quite light golden brown colour under the wings.
I was reading about thier nests... how they collect blue objects to decorate it,(clothes pegs, paper, plastic... isn't that amazing behaviour? what on earth would make them do that?!
Thanks for the ID.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
oops meant to add a photo.... not great as it was about 6.30pm but hopefully enough to confirm it is a Satin Bowerbird
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Hi Hev
Satin for sure, the male decorates his bower (not the nest) to attract females and if she is impressed will allow...well I'm sure you get the picture, she then builds a plain nest some way off and as far as I know dos not decorate it. The male takes no part in nest building or young rasing, being too busy keeping his bower and trinket collection in tip top order to attract other females!!.Some of us males are very sensative so I think you should be very careful with any comments about that last statment.... :-)
Ed Townsville NQ
Ed... I'm sure bower and trinket collection and presentation is very important and obviously very time consuming in the male world and I wouldn't dare to criticize.... no way :)
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
By the way... I'm not getting any notification of posts to a thread like I normally do... any one else having that problem?
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Yes same problem.
Ed Townsville NQ