If it wasn't for the calls or sexual-differences, (crikey....what's left!) I
would be tempted to go for Red-backed Kingfisher.
Interesting.....
Tom
On 10/26/07, John Leonard <> wrote:
>
> "As I stood awaiting the cart's arrival, some birds drew my attention,
> as I perceived I had attracted theirs. They descended to the lowest
> branches of the tree in whose shade I stood, and seemed to regard my
> horse with curiosity. On my imitating their chirp one fluttered down,
> and attempted to alight on my horse's ears. On my whistling to them,
> one whistled some beautifully varied notes, as soft as those of an
> octave flute, although their common chirp was harsh and dissonant. The
> male and female seemed to have very different plumage, especially
> about the head; that on the one having the varying tint of the Rifle
> bird, the head of the other more resembling in colour, that of the
> DACELO GIGANTEUS. They were about the size of a thrush, and seemed the
> sole residents of that particular spot, and I had not seen them
> elsewhere. "
>
> Thomas Mitchell 1844, somewhere in inland NSW near Balonne River
>
> ie a pair of birds, the male dark and iridescent like a Rifle Bird
> (only about the head?) and the female having a head pattern like a
> Kookaburra. About the size of a European Thrush.
>
> Mitchell (as in Major Mitchell's Cockatoo) is usually very good on
> birds, but I can't think what these are?
>
> Any ideas
>
> --
> John Leonard
> Canberra
> Australia
> www.jleonard.net
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> www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
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--
********************************
Tom & Marie Tarrant
Samsonvale, Qld
http://www.aviceda.org
http://wildlife.vodpod.com/
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