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I
think I understand Mark's advice (and what it looks like HANZAB informs) that
this change happens in the bird's third year, rather than it happens over a
period of its first three years. Although maybe not all birds do it with exactly
the same timing. HANZAB says "second immature male not distinguishable from
adult female, third immature male most moult into adult male
plumage."
This
seems the best interpretation as it presumably happens quickly in the bird's
life. I suggest if it happens over a 3 year period we would see more like this.
I don't believe I have ever seen one looking like that. Good of Robin to put it
forward. Apart from the big dark eye and the white throat, I wouldn't have even
got that far.
Philip
Robin,
Your
bird is a Golden Whistler going in to adult male plumage for the first time. It
takes the male 3 years (from banding studies) to attain full adult plumage so
this bird is in its second year. You are lucky to see one in this plumage, I
don’t think I ever have even after banding many hundreds of Golden
Whistlers.
Cheers,
Mark
From: Robin Hide [ Sent: Saturday, 9
June 2012 3:49 PM To: Canberra
Birds Subject:
[canberrabirds] ID help
Beside Lake Ginninderra (west side) this morning, this small
bird was calling repeatedly from a bare tree. Slightly larger (?) than a Jacky
Winter (I think), and the yellowish wash quite marked. From another angle
(almost directly below),the chin seemed whiter.
Grateful for any
identification suggestions.
Robin
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