Unknown bird with unusual flight pattern

["Paul T." <>]

At 05:26 PM 30/07/2008, you wrote:
> Hello Paul,
> I have seen Pied Ceurrawongs perform this type of flight when 
> descending to a lower elevation i e an undulating flight where they 
> open their wing partly (1/2 to 3/4, very rarely fully) to check 
> their descent giving them a lift for a while then closing them tight 
> to their side for a while allowing them to drop a bit then opening 
> them partly again giving them another lift. I'm sure other species 
> perform this type of flight sometimes. There must be a term for this 
> type of flight.  I find the size of a bird difficult assess at a 
> glance sometimes and it may have been a currawong that looked 
> smaller than it should on another sp.
Peter,

Thanks for your response.  A number of people have mentioned that 
currawongs have this flight pattern but I can guarantee it wasn't a 
currawong, unless it changed shape and colour.  I see currawongs 
around my place all the time unfortunately and it was chunkier than 
them and was clearly a grey-brown colouration, not black or dark grey 
like a currawong.  Much as I don't like currawongs I do have to admit 
that they are somewhat more elegantly shaped than my unknown. 
<grin>  The other thing was that the wings snapped open and closed 
very quickly, but to me looked like they did fully open, or at least 
gave that impression.  The bird was flying approximately flat at 
about 8 feet above the road or so.
Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia - USDA Zone Equivalent approx. 8/9

Growing an eclectic collection of plants from all over the world 
including Aroids, Crocus, Cyclamen, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, 
Galanthus, Irises, Trilliums (to name but a few) and just about 
anything else that doesn't move!! 

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