|
If the
tail was not an Emu-wren's tail, then most likely just a Superb Fairy-wren
moulting into or out of male plumage and those blue patches are first new or the
last old blue feathers. This is quite normal. For any bird that moults from
one plumage stage to another, you should be aware that obviously transition
states occur. Most field guides don't bother to show this or not for every
species.
Your
mention of "no other distinguishing colour
marks" also suggest this, as the Southern Emu-wren is
noticeably striped, so doesn't fit. Behaviour and calls are a bit
different. Both species have blue on the head although for the Southern Emu-wren
not on the neck, so your mention of blue doesn't help a lot. Only other
possibility is Variegated Fairy-wren but no reason to suggest that.
Philip
Visiting the Gong area over the past week to take advantage of their good
birding sites I came across a wren type which I suspect was a juvenile. At
the time i was looking for the southern emu-wren as it had been reported
in the Towradgi coastal heath along the beach. The bird was a grey brown colour,
no sign of any filamentous tail feathers but certainly wren in shape and size.
What was particularly noticeable were the existence of three small blue dots on
each side of the bird’s neck but no other distinguishing colour marks. I wonder
whether any members would be familiar with these markings and the ID
of the bird.
Ray
|
