There is excitement in the air everywhere in my garden. My favourite little birds, the Superb Fairy-wrens are singing a lot more beautiful, if that's possible? And the boys have started to change into their breeding colours. Blue dots are popping up everywhere.
I will try to get more photos as they progress.
one more:
M-L
Stunning as per usual!
Wow, it looks like they have eye makeup!
Transvestite birdies?
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
I have asked that same question on here before, "are there any gay birds"? Nobody has given me any answers.
M-L
I had no idea that the males change colours that quickly, only a few hours later the same bird (I'm sure it was the same one) looked a lot more blue. I did take some photos, but they turned out too bad to put up. As soon as the sun comes out, and I'm not going to freeze to death, I will go and find him.
Holly can probabely tell me how long it takes to be in full breeding colour?
M-L
You know, I have no idea! I think it would be a couple of weeks but that is only guessing. If I get a chance today I will look up HANZAB and see if the answer lies within.
Oh and of course gorgeous photos M-L - I am a sucker for a moulting fairy-wren shot.
how long it takes to be in full breeding colour? - an interesting question
I used to breed fancy pigeons (early '80s), they moult annually and my old memory seems to recall that this took place over a period of days not in 1 day - but they are moulting to replace old feathers not to dress up for the arduous task of attracting those very selective hen birds.
an interesting read is (though this refers to N American birds):
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/studying/feathers/molting/document_view
I look forward to the results of Holly's research
Peter
Hi Peter,did you see what the male wren looked like today? Day three of moulting. I hope I can take some photos every day.
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/comment/69180#comment-69180
Day three of moulting
M-L
yes, & thanks for posting the daily pics
Peter
Changing of colour good question?
A few years ago a young satin bowerbird move in,and just started to build a bower in the garden. He shown signs of patches of blue and with in a week. Wow!
Now Iam not 100% but I think it was the same bird ?
Now this does not happen ever year. This was the first time I had a bowerbird in my garden building a bower.
Nightowl
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
Hi nightowl, this was the same bird yesterday. The weather is bad today, don't know if I can get a photo? Will try though.
M-L
How good is this!
Day by day he is looking better and better , the girls don't stand a chance ,wish I could scrub up that good in couple of days. Please keep us posted .
Thank you M-L
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
I noticed one in full colour a week or two ago in our Camelia bush and thought that they must be changing colour again. But then I read somewhere they do in Winter-Spring so thought perhaps they do change earlier.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria