Lindsay,
Your photo brings back a memory for me of a similar bird we saw but could not get a photo of at Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay in 1994. Phillip is spot on saying that the Black & White and Blue & White birds are the same species (different sub-species). At the time or soon after our sighting there was considerable correspondence on birding-aus from various photographers who pointed out that at times with these birds depending on the light they can look either black or blue. Which no doubt makes life difficult, however it does seem that there is a population of the Dirk Hartog Island nominate Black & White birds, (perhaps increasing), on the surrounding mainland area of Shark Bay. You also mention a small blue patch, this is consistent with Pizzey’s comment for M leucoperus leucopterus.
John
From: Lindsay Hansch [
Sent: Thursday, 19 January 2012 3:57 PM
To: COG-L
Subject: [canberrabirds] Bird ID
I would appreciate views on the photo below (not a very good one as it was taken from some distance). Is it m. leucopterus (black wren) or m. leuconotus (blue wren) or was the light playing tricks with me? The photo was taken at Garalia Station which is south of the bottom end of Exmouth Gulf, WA, nearer Coral Bay than Exmouth. All my photos of this bird show a small blue patch just behind the eye which apparently is not uncommon in the black wrens. The guide books give m. leucopterus’ known habitat as Dirk Hartog Island, noting that the black wren is rarely seen on the mainland. However, we met a fellow birder at Halls Creek who showed us a good photo of a black wren that he claims he took at Shark Bay. Rhonda photographed the same bird and her photos are similar to mine.
Regards
Lindsay Hansch
