Pallid Cuckoo juvenile

["Marg & Jim Peachey" <>]

From Julian:

 

Pizzey tells me that the juv Pallid Cuckoo looks 'grotesque' but Marg's pic didn't strike me that way. What diagnostic features make this a Pallid?  Maybe just that it is not brown since others seem to be brown, at least in the more advanced stages shown in field guides.

 

My comments:  My "grotesque" cuckoo is really quite sweet.  It is very wild and I have to catch it to feed it, however I am trying to entice it to eat for itself.  The description of a juvenile pallid in the Readers Digest book says brown and white, but this one is definately black and white.  As I am rearing it I will be able to let you know if it 'turns into' a pallid cuckoo!

I will keep photos for proof too!!

 

cheers,

Marg

From:

To:

Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 1:27 AM

Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Callum Brae cuckoo ID please

Thanks Ian and Mark - I should have asked "what is it and why?".  I actually looked at Marg's cuckoo and decided mine (actually Sue Lashko's since she located it) was probably different, so ...here's a question about approach.  When you identify juveniles and since the plumage looks nothing like the adults or immatures in the field guides, are you identifying by experience having seen them before, or from illustrations/descriptions in more comprehensive books like HANZAB, or some other way?

Pizzey tells me that the juv Pallid Cuckoo looks 'grotesque' but Marg's pic didn't strike me that way. What diagnostic features make this a Pallid?  Maybe just that it is not brown since others seem to be brown, at least in the more advanced stages shown in field guides.

I went back this pm, and in two days it has completely outgrown the nest and looks huge.  Easy to see how they appear at RSPCA's door - this bird is draped around and over the nest which hangs precariously and could easily fall, with unfledged baby, to the ground.

Cheers

Julian






At 05:47 PM 2/01/07, Mark Clayton wrote:

Go on Ian, don't be a chicken, you got the last one right for Marg Peachey
so use a biro. Yep, another Pallid Cuckoo.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Fraser
Sent: Tuesday, 2 January 2007 5:04 PM
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Callum Brae cuckoo ID please

Well I don't mind sticking my neck out again and saying I reckon it's
another Pallid. But put that in pencil for now Julian....

IF

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