impossible identification please

["Chris Davey" <>]

My sister–in-law knows these birds as Owl Finches which I always think is a lovely description.

 

Chris

 

From: Ann Howarth [
Sent: Sunday, 8 July 2012 11:13 AM
To: 'COG'; 'jude hopwood'
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] impossible identification please

 

As a novice I was taught that the call of double-barred finches sounds like young kittens calling for their mother.

 

Ann

 

 

 

 

From:

Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2012 11:58 PM

To: m("bigpond.com","chollop7");" title="">'Mark Clayton' ; m("gmail.com","joodee52");" title="">'jude hopwood' ; m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" title="">'COG'

Subject: [canberrabirds] impossible identification please

 

I agree with Mark as that being a likely answer. That is, if you mean the tail is black, (rather than the bird in whole being mostly black, which it isn't) making the very white rump obvious. Other clue to Double-barred Finches is the calls. When flying in groups, they almost always give a quick note like "vip", but as soon as one gets separated from the group, it will perch and give a longer toot call until it finds its friends again.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----From: Mark Clayton m("bigpond.com]","chollop7");">[ Sent: Friday, 6 July 2012 7:12 AM
To: 'jude hopwood'; 'COG'      Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] impossible identification please

Hi Jude,

 

Have you considered Double-barred Finches?

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

From: jude hopwood m("gmail.com]","joodee52");">[ Sent: Friday, 6 July 2012 5:58 AM      To: COG
Subject: [canberrabirds] impossible identification please

 

Dear Knowledgeable Ones,

 

3pm, July 4th. A brief passing flock of small birds in open country (!) - Currawang - South East of Collector.  Black, very short fanned tail with small patch of white on rump.  6 to 8 in flock - reasonably low to ground. Very fast. This is absolutely all the detail available.  Any ideas?  None of my references seem to have anything close other than the Hooded Robin which, at 16 cm, is too large to be this bird. Have spotted this small flock a number of times recently, but this is the first time I got a quick look at details before they were gone. 

 

At our place, Blackbird, who abandoned us in mid Summer, is back, a solitary bird.  Boobook calling as I post this.

 

Respectfully,

Jude Hopwood.