They seem to be ‘D’ for some time Martin. This chap came down
the street with his parents last week. Perhaps the independence moment comes
when they can tell a caterpillar from a piece of bark.
From: martin butterfield
[
Sent: Thursday, 18 February 2010 9:24 AM
To: COG List
Subject: [canberrabirds] Cuckoo-shrike
On the mid-week walk yesterday the group were intrigued by
an unusually plumaged Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (BFCS) . Various
alternatives were considered but rejected on the basis of the bird's call and
it hanging out with other birds which were clearly BFCS.
On referring to HANZAB part VII A there is the following description of a
juvenile BFCS "... heavily barred and mottled brown plumage and diffuse
broad eyestripe,.lacking large black mask but plumage held for only a short
time after fledging...." . I think the first part of that explains
pretty clearly what we saw and the last few words why it seemed so unusual.
If only an adult had rammed some food into it we would have had a DY record!
Martin
