Tonight just before dusk I was disturbed from my book by lots of flapping and rustling in the trees outside my window. On investigation I found a few figbirds male and female getting excited and flitting from branch to branch. To my surprise then I realised I was about 10 ft away from what looked like a young catbird. It gave a rather strangled cry. The other birds, including a few noisy miners were keeping an eye on it but once it started calling they appeared to leave it alone. It got bolder and I was rapt to see it stretch its neck and make the normal call getting louder and louder.
I was wondering would it be looking for a parent or feeling threatened? Are the fig birds likely to be aggressors to this species or vice versa?
No camera but a great close encounter - had to make a choice - run for the camera and risk missing it or stay put .
I stayed put!!
Now that's a hard choice to make. Thanks for sharing birdie. Wish I could be disturbed from my book that way.
See Yez
Trev
Yes bushy, But I should explain that my bedroom window is only metres away from the fence bordering a stream and wildlife corridor type thing. So I am fortunate enough to share the rainforest & woodland so close. The fence is battens with wide gaps in them so I was able to stay screened from the catbird but still see it.
In the mornings and evenings it is like living in an aviary :)
Trouble is you can hear but very hard to see most of the birds
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
You are sooooo lucky to have your bedroom window next to the bush Birdie.
I heard a Catbird (and saw it)in Cairns and they sound so much like a cat its not funny.
I had never heard of them till last year Tassie, and was really excited to discover that I was living amongst them!!
Very hard to get a shot of them though as they camouflage well and no light in the rainforesty areas.
What always interests me the most is observing the birds when they call and seeing how they move their necks and head to achieve the sounds. I spend many hours watching the butcherbirds in this way.
That dust storm was unbelievable wasn't it!
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
You are lucky to have them Birdie and the call they make is really extrordinary.
I know what you mean about the way a bird moves its head during its calls, I have quiet often watched the Butcherbirds throw their heads back.
The dust storm was unbelievable.
oh our neighbour has told me there is a bird in his tree that sounds just like a cat but he cant see it so what color are they/ he actually thought it was his cat up the tree. we are in charters towers inland from townsville
Hi Joanne,
The Spotted Catbird (the type of catbird found in northern Qld) has bright emerald green on its back and wings. I would describe its front as being streaked pale green, pale brown, and cream / buff.
Their call is amazing! To me, it sounds a bit like a baby wailing.
I'm in Brisbane; would love to hear more about the kind of birds you get at Charters Towers.
Andy.
omg i will have to look hard for him for sure thanks Andy, we have lots of birds up here and would you believe today i came up onto our dam and there was a lesser cresterd tern there fired of a couple of shots not the best but worth the keep until i get better:) We are 140kms inland so i was surprised to see him
HI Joanne
They are a beautiful green colour and are very hard to pick against their natural habitat. But they have a heavy kind of shape ( if that makes sense) so that is what is visible really. The call is unmistakable and you can hear it from miles away. From looking in my newly acquired Simpson and day guide, it appears that they only live on the coast but I guess that may mean 140km in as well, not sure.
Happy spotting!!
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland