FW: [canberrabirds] Help with ID please

["Philip Veerman" <>]

-----Original Message-----From: Philip Veerman [ Sent: Thursday, 24 January 2013 5:04 PM      To: 'Lindell'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Help with ID please

Your message suggests 3 birds. I see two, the upper bird is clearly a Red Wattlebird, the other bird is consistent with a cuckoo that could be a dependent juvenile Fantail Cuckoo as much by what you saw them doing than by anything in the photo but I don't think it is possible to know what it is from the photo (e.g. rule out Brush Cuckoo). The drooping wing is certainly cuckoo-like but from the photo it could equally be a female blackbird.

 

Then there is maybe another bird at the bottom. That doesn't add any help. Although two dependent juvenile cuckoos is odd, as there is only ever one young in any parasitized nest. 

 

Philip

 

 

-----Original Message-----From: Lindell [ Sent: Thursday, 24 January 2013 4:49 PM      To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Help with ID please

Firstly I apologise if this attachment is too big - I don't want to decimate the details too much. 

These two birds flew across near the bridge at the wetlands in hot pursuit of a wattlebird towards Fyshwick this morning. I didn't get the bins on them but did notice they weren't flying like Wattlebirds. I followed and they had stopped on this dead tree way across the creek. This is the best my lens would do.

Would I be right in saying that they were dependent juvenile Fantail Cuckoos with the parent Wattlebird?

If wrong can someone tell me what they might be please.

Thank you

--

Lindell

Griffith ACT