G'day all
I was going through my bird notes from a round Australia trip in 1993
recently and came across the following description of two birds I
couldn't identify. Any suggestions?
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Date: 21st June 1993
Place: Keep River National Park, Northern Territory
Description: Two individuals seen. The birds were methodically
probing orange Grevillea flowers - presumably for the nectar. They
were in the company of Red-collared Lorikeets, Masked and White-
browed Woodswallows, Silver-crowned and Little Friarbirds, Brown,
Rufous-throated and Banded Honeyeaters.
I estimate the size to be intermediate between Brown Honeyeater and
Little Friarbird. That would make them 20-22 cm.
My impression was that the birds were slender Honeyeaters with
longish tails (as in Rufous Songlark). The bill was long, straight
and blunt tipped - not at all curved or pointed. The eye was dark.
Upper parts were uniform slaty grey with some paler patternings over
the wings. Lower parts pale grey, whiter under the throat. Face was
dark grey above and below the bill.
No calls were heard.
At this stage I had seen and become familiar with most of the top-end
and Kimberly woodland species and these birds were unlike anything I
had seen. Close views were obtained and the light was excellent.
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Cheers
Stephen Clark
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