Green Catbird

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SharonS
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Green Catbird

Hi all,
we live on the Central Coast NSW and back onto a national park,we have a very thriving colony of Bush Turkeys and a family of Green catbirds (among others), the Turkeys can be very pushy, which I sort of expected, now the catbirds are getting just as pushy. Each morning about 5ish, one of them sits outside our kitchen window ontop of the swing set and calls, if we don't go ou it hangs on the side of the window and taps on the window. When I am up and feeding our pets their breakfast (dogs and cats) I usually have a couple of Turkeys following me, the Catbird nows follows too. The Catbird has come inside our backroom where the pets sleep. they are looking for food. they have taken a liking to the cats biscuits, which are obviously not good for them. my cats have an outdoor enclosure, when it is open the catbird will go inside and perch on the benches to eat the cat biscuits.
the birds have nothing to worry about from my pets as the Turkeys have the domestic animals set firmly at the bottom of the pecking order.
Is it usual for Catbirds to be this pushy? I am really enjoying having them around.

Anonymous

Hi SharonS,
excuse my ignorance, not living on the east coast, but what on earth is a green catbird? A green bird attracted to cats? We get black-tailed native hens, common coots and quail in our park here in SA.

DenisWilson
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Hi Sunju
Green Catbirds are closely related to Satin Bowerbirds.
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=169
They are birds of the rainforests on the east coast. Their call is said to resemble a cat's harsh noises (when fighting) - not the nice Miaow noise.
.
All environments in Australia have their own special charms. People in the rainforests would be pleased to see your Quails.

Cheers
Denis

Anonymous

Thanks Denis, have to see if I can take some photos of the quail. Not too confident though. They are not always able to be found. Usually when you least expect it and they disappear fast.

Wow, SharonS, what an amazing sound the the catbirds make, and also the colour. That's what I love about this forum, so much to learn.
cheers,
sunju.

SharonS
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Hi Sinju, yeah they are pretty cool. I got some good pics of one yesterday but not sure if I can upload them. Would love to see your quails.

Thanks Denis, speaking of their call, there he goes, on the swing set now!! My 3 year old daughter mimics them very well, if she is around when they call, she calls back to them and there has been times when the bird and my daughter have called to each other for up to 4-5 times.

Sharon

birdie
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Hi there
I was lucky enough to have a green catbird drop down from a tree and have his breakfast while I was on my morning walk.
They are really pretty and so unusual to look at. I have now got my bird diary up to 34 species , just from my neighbourhood morning walks. I took my new camera this morning and it took me twice as long as usual, but it was great.

Sunshine Coast Queensland

birdie
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I am so happy this morningn I went for a walk in a Sanctuary nearby and thie only birds i saw were 4 green catbirds making a real miaowing racket!
Not a very good picture as they were high up in the trees but here are two of them:

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Lois
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Cool, I love green catbirds. I love their call and love to see them when we go camping at Crystal Waters (Permaculture Village near Connodale in QLD) It is a great place to birdwatch. No cats or dogs allowed.

birdie
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hey Lois
Do you live on the Sunshine coast or do you just go up to Crystal Waters for camping trips? These catbirds were in Foote Sanctuary in Buderim.I was feeling totally ripped off as i thought it would be teeming with birds and I couldn't see any. then as I was leaving these guys were high up in the trees by the carpark. Maybe it is usual for a dark rainforest area not to have many birds? Compared to my neighbourhood ( less than a kilometre away) it was really void of life.

Sunshine Coast Queensland

SharonS
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I am attempting to post some photos I took of one of our Green Catbirds taken in November. Hope this works.

And Happy new year to all.
Sharon

SharonS
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Yay it worked, that is the first time i have posted photos. Now I csn look for some more. yay again
Sharon

SharonS
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whoops, the photos are gone, I'll try again.

soakes
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Wow, they are amazing-looking birds. I have never heard of them before this thread!

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

SharonS
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Hey there Soakes, before we moved here I had only seen a stuffed specamin at the meuseum years ago on a school visit. I was very excited when I first heard them, saw them and then photographed them. They are now so much a part of my daily life that this forum is a good reminder of how lucky I am.
Sharon

magpie
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Sharon can I ask where on the central coast you live?
I am also on the central coast but have never heard or seen a catbird. Would love to know where i can spot some.

SharonS
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Hi Magpie,
we are at Bensville. I don't know how many birds are in the area, we have a resident breeding pair, who last year raised 2 chicks, I do not know where they nest only when they are nesting by their behaviuor changes and then at the end of the season we had 4 birds hanging around. We back onto National Park, which is where I assume they nest but they are on our property most of the day.
Where are you on the coast?
Sharon

Lois
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Here is a belated reply for Birdie. I see the Green catbirds at Crystal Waters when we go camping there. Unforunately I never heard of them in Brisbane - I just adore them.

magpie
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Sharon Im up at Toukley, much further up than you. Which explains why i haven't seen the lovely catbirds

ed
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The catbird of N Queensland...

Spotted catbird

Ed Townsville NQ

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