At Barbara’s this morning the young koel was findable in a street tree by call. At this stage, in proportions and general markings it resembles a female. Comparison below with a female from last year (remembering that females can vary quite a bit - query chicks in that regard). The best indication of juv status apart from begging call is probably the buffy head markings - will find another pic to illustrate.
An adult was also calling at Barbara’s. They are certainly continuing to call every day around (upper) Narrabundah.
From: Barbara Allan [
Sent: Monday, 5 March 2012 2:18 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] after the rain
I do hope some of you at least were able to get out this morning and go birding. My local patch (The Pinnacle NR Hawker) was simply great! Most of the regulars present: thornbills, finches, whiteface, treecreeper, robins, frogmouths, whistlers, pardalotes, scrubwrens, choughs etc etc but also a stream of passage migrants, incl Grey and Rufous Fantails, Leaden Flycatchers, a Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo. More male Scarlet Robins had come down from the mountains and were engaged in calling competitions with the resident birds. And here in the garden the koel chick and at least one parent are still present and knocking off my pears. b
