Six of the best.

20 posts / 0 new

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 18:43

Reflex

Six of the best.

I am really fortunate to live in Samford because I do come across some great birds just on my way to work and on my home from work.

This morning I spotted a Pheasant Coucal in a large dead tree and decided it was such a magnificent morning to pull over and see if I could take some photographs.

Whilst I was trying to sneak up among the now tall grass and organise myself so that the morning sun was behind me I became aware of an incessant, far-carrying insect-like "bhzzt" followed by liquid "lek" or "pillek".

It was a male Golden-Headed Cisticola and judging by his actions I was very near a nest or was in his territory but it was another first for me..

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 19:00

Owl of Kedumba

Good work Reflex

Are you sure this isn't a Tawny Grassbird?

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 19:26

Reflex

Owl of Kedumba wrote:

Good work Reflex
Are you sure this isn't a Tawny Grassbird?

Thanks Owl.

Two things made me identify this as a Golden-Headed Cisticola ( but happy to be corrected):

The raised crown feathers are indicative of a male Cisticola that is breeding...not sure that happens in Grassbirds.
The size was tiny less than 10cm. Tawny grow to nearly 20cm.

Samford Valley Qld.

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 19:32

Devster

Nice Reflex, you sure are getting some marked off your list.

Not to mention some great photos.

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 20:05

Willskrills

I agree with Reflex. Average adult Tawny Grassbird is 17-19cm while the Golden Headed Cisticola is 9-11cm. Also like he said Tawny Grassbirds do not have crest.

William.S

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 20:19

Owl of Kedumba

Thanks for the info, just wasn't sure. I'm not too familiar with Grassbirds and the like.

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 20:41

Reflex

Owl of Kedumba wrote:

Thanks for the info, just wasn't sure. I'm not too familiar with Grassbirds and the like.

Neither am I Owl and I do appreciate your imput. The other thing that I noticed this morning is that they have strange flying habits that seem to be peculiar to this species.

It's also interesting to read that another name for them is, "Tailorbird" which refers to the way they stitch two leaves together bound with spiders web to form the base of a nest. Something that can only be accomplished in an area that is not constantly cleared.

Something that one of our regular contributors from the s.e. slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges SA. regularly mentions as being an important habitat for a vareity of small birds.

Samford Valley Qld.

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 20:51

zosterops

it's doesn't look right to me, the colour is off imo, i reckon mr owl is onto something.

cisticolas are usually found in dense grasses, i've never seen one on something like an asclepias/gomphocarpus

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 20:53

Reflex

zosterops wrote:

it's doesn't look right to me, the colour is off imo, i reckon mr owl is onto something.
cisticolas are usually found in dense grasses, i've never seen one on something like an asclepias/gomphocarpus

It was in dense grasses Zosterops?

Samford Valley Qld.

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 20:54

#10

Rick N

Great set of shots Reflex. Having seen neither bird went to P&K for a look and a read up.

Your description of the calls and behavior and size would seem to indicate GHC.

Nice work or "late for work"

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 21:03

#11

Reflex

zosterops wrote:

it's doesn't look right to me, the colour is off imo, i reckon mr owl is onto something.
cisticolas are usually found in dense grasses, i've never seen one on something like an asclepias/gomphocarpus

You're good at identifications so here's another photograph which shows you the bird on a familiar plant to demonstrate the size of the bird.

Samford Valley Qld.

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 21:56

#12

timrp

Nice shots! I think it's a Tawny Grassbird as well. It's tail is longer than Golden Headed Cisticola's tails are and its crown is darker than a Cisticola's. As for the call, could it have been a hidden Cisticola?

Wed, 04/03/2015 - 22:24

#13

Owl of Kedumba

What makes me doubt Cisticola is that it doesn't look very golden (head), and more like photo's of Tawny Grassbird's I've seen on the internet.

Thu, 05/03/2015 - 00:57

#14

Devster

I would have to agree with the others Reflex, it looks more like a Tawny Grassbird.

Tawny Grassbirds & GHC are often together in the same area so quite possible the bird you heard wasn't the bird you saw.

Tawny Grassbirds do have a crest.

Heres why I think TG & not GHC

Longer tail & colour of the head as Tim Said

But the eye is the clencher for me.

Cisticolas have like a faint white eye ring as you can see on my photo

Whereas Tawny Grassbirds have a white streak above the eye like yours does.

Sorry buddy, I'd have to go TG.

Hope this helps.

Thu, 05/03/2015 - 08:59

#15

zosterops

Reflex wrote:

zosterops wrote:
it's doesn't look right to me, the colour is off imo, i reckon mr owl is onto something.
cisticolas are usually found in dense grasses, i've never seen one on something like an asclepias/gomphocarpus
It was in dense grasses Zosterops?

yeah but i've never seen one come out into the open and land in a dicot.