Hi Dimitris
Tough birds! There are a few clues besides the call though (and what you say you think you heard sounds like Grey-tailed).
Distribution – Grey-tailed much more likely, it is regular in the south-east, albeit in small numbers, Wandering is a vagrant south of northern NSW.
Colour of upperparts – every Wandering I’ve seen has looked dark, on Lord Howe was able to look at both species side-by-side (a luxury!) and the difference was subtle but noticeable – your bird looks like GTT on that score.
Supercilium – supposed to be more obvious on GT, and extend more behind eye, is less marked on juveniles. Can’t be sure about this but based on small, neat scapulars your bird may well be a juvenile (or at least a first year bird), in which case the supercilium looks okay for GTT, all a bit subjective though.
Call is the best way to be sure of course, on balance I’d say this is a GTT but I wouldn’t claim to be anything like 100% certain, hope this helps a bit
cheers
Steve
From: Dimitris Bertzeletos [
Sent: Sunday, 23 November 2008 6:18 PM
To: canberra birds; joan fearn
Subject: [canberrabirds] Tattler species id, South East Coast, Australia
Hello all,
This bird:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=128100
Has appeared in the Bateman's Bay Marina, can anyone help? Or are the calls really the only way to go?
Also a spectacular mixed flock of 1,000++ Rainbow Lorikeets (they were flying around like starlings!), 200 Little Corellas, 100 Galahs and 50 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos behind Bird Land animal park.
Cheers and thanks for any help!
Dimitris
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