Newbie bird call ID

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Alberta,

 

Well I would think it unusual for one brown-headed honeyeater to be hanging around in suburban gardens by itself for long, as they really are sociable and mobile. Although if one happens to get lost or lose its flock it could do, so that would still be possible. I had the White-fronted Honeyeater at my home for 9 weeks, 2 years ago.

 

A brown-headed honeyeater isn't much look at but to answer the question What looks like a brown-headed honeyeater but sounds, well, prettier?  I would come up with Western Gerygone, which also isn't much to look at - a small nondescript mousy brown bird but it has a very pretty song. That is not to say your bird is that..........(Only you can assess your id - as in how well have you observed it.) 

 

Philip Veerman

24 Castley Circuit

Kambah  ACT  2902

 

02 - 62314041

-----Original Message-----
From: Alberta Hayes [
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2009 5:32 PM
To: Philip Veerman
Cc: David Nicholls; canberra birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Newbie bird call ID

Hi again,
I thought I had identified a brown-headed
honeyeater that has been hanging about my backyard  (by sight) but as a
result of this conversation I'm not confident of the i.d. 
What looks like a
brown-headed honeyeater but sounds, well, prettier?  I've checked the Birds
in backyards Mp3s and they aren't of much use.

Alberta Hayes, perplexed
in Monash.

On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 5:20 PM, Philip Veerman <> wrote:

I am mostly ready to assist people with these questions as are others.
But at the risk of seeming uninspired, I suggest additional
contemplation before asking, as to whether these questions are
answerable on the information given. Maybe trying to imitate the sound
to people at the COG meeting is a better option than trying to type it
I would suggest that a look at the bird would help. A description of a
call could lead to a whole range of things and most importantly,
regardless of the responses we may give, it is still hard to prove
whether the suggestions are correct until the person asking, sees it for
themself - thus solving the problem. Learning from asking is great and
may be quick but learning from following through yourself can be more
satisfying.

For what little it is worth, I'd support Anthony Overs on White-throated
Gerygone also Harvey on Grey Fantail and also throw in Silvereye as a
candidate. I am surprised though at the suggestion of Brown-headed
Honeyeater as they are mostly in mobile flocks and their call is a dull
sound. Either way the question has not advanced a great deal..........

Philip Veerman
24 Castley Circuit
Kambah  ACT  2902

02 - 62314041


-----Original Message-----
From: David Nicholls [
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2009 11:51 AM
Cc: canberra birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Newbie bird call ID [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]


The BiB site mp3 recording makes it sound coarser. This was a whistling
call.

DN

Alberta Hayes wrote:
> *Long shot, but Brown-headed honeyeater?
>
> Alberta Hayes, Monash.
> *White-throated Gerygone
> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 11:32 AM, Perkins, Harvey
> <
> <>> wrote:
>
>     Or even a Grey Fantail call could fit the description, depending
on
>     interpretation of written notation of bird song...
>
>     Harvey
>
>
>     *Harvey Perkins*
>     CRC Selection Rounds Section
>     _______________________________________
>     *Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research*
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     *From:* Anthony Overs [
>     <>]
>     *Sent:* Thursday, 15 October 2009 11:29 AM
>     *To:* David Nicholls
>     *Cc:* canberra birds
>     *Subject:* Re: [canberrabirds] Newbie bird call ID
>
>     White-throated Gerygone might be a candidate, based on the 'pretty
>     whistling' and 'cascading' descriptors
>
>     Anthony
>
>     2009/10/15 David Nicholls <
>     <>>
>
>         It was in a thick pittosporum bush/tree in my front garden (or
>         possibly in the Silver Birch next to it).  I have heard it
>         before, but never so close.
>
>         I'll have a listen to the bird calls CD tonight and see if I
can
>         find it.  It was a pretty whistling call, starting simply and
>         cascading into a much more complex pattern.  The call was
>         repeated several times and lasted about 2-3 seconds each
> repeat.
>
>         DN
>
>         Geoffrey Dabb wrote:
>
>             Where did you hear it, David, and what kind of habitat?
(It
>             might be the
>             neighbour's canary)
>
>             -----Original Message-----
>             From: David Nicholls [
>             <>] Sent: Thursday, 15 October
2009
>             10:23 AM
>             To:
>             <>
>             Subject: [canberrabirds] Newbie bird call ID
>
>             What bird makes a (loud) high whistling
>
> "chip-chip-chip-cheep-cheep-cheep-deedle-eedle-eedle-eeee"?
>
>             If that's intelligible...
>
>             Thanks
>
>             DN