Page 327 of the article David refers to, mentions: “The colourful female of the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, subspecies
graptogyne, near Casterton, Vic. Recognised only in 1989, this subspecies has a population of about 1000 individuals.”
I would offer a small correction that the year was 1988. The article releasing the name was Schodde, R. (1988). New Subspecies of Australian Birds.
Canberra Bird Notes 13, 119-122. This was published in the December 1988
CBN issue. (It was me who put it out.) Admittedly it was posted out in February 1989 but it is still a 1988 issue and always cited as such. Besides the work to recognise this subspecies as separate and decide on the name (graptogyne = painted lady) was
surely all done before 1989. I also wonder why it and the Striated Grasswren (that don’t occur in our AOI) were included in this
CBN write-up.
Also my review of (first edition of):
A Photographic Guide to the Birds of the Australian High Country. By Neil Hermes. In
Canberra Bird Notes 43(2) (2018): 220-222 also mentions (top of page 222) of this book: “For each species, the number and location of any described subspecies are listed. Given that the book covers a small geographic area, most species do not
have more than one subspecies in the subject area, indeed many listed as having no described subspecies. The author has chosen to give prominence to that information, although it may be a low-priority item for many users.”
So there is more comprehensive information available there.
Philip
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of David McDonald (Personal)
Sent: Wednesday, 10 March, 2021 8:25 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Grey fantail spp alisteri
The columnist Stentoreus has a particularly valuable discussion of sub-species in the current (Dec 2020) issue of
CBN. The four species with more than one sub-species found in COG’s area of interest are listed. The Grey Fantail is not among them.
David
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Mark Clayton
Sent: Wednesday, 10 March 2021 8:07 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Grey fantail spp alisteri
While the fantails that the two Terry's have seen are almost certainly the local race
alisteri it is quite possible to get the Tasmanian race albiscapa potentially passing through the local area on migration during autumn and winter. There is a banding recovery of a Tasmanian banded bird found dead near (from memory) Taree in
NSW. The Charcoal Tank banding team has captured some rather weird plumaged birds in winter that potentially were the Tasmanian race but without any recaptures in Tasmania, it is just speculation on my part as to what exact race they were.
Mark
On 9/03/2021 10:51 pm, Philip Veerman wrote:
Am I missing something here? On my quick look at 2 relevant books, I find the subspecies alisteri is the one in south east Australia (from South Australia to SE Qld). Thus pretty much all the Grey Fantails in our region are that one. Thus you are reporting the one we always see here.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Canberrabirds On Behalf Of Terry Bell via Canberrabirds
Sent: Tuesday, 9 March, 2021 10:13 PM
To: chatline canberrabirds
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Grey fantail spp alisteri
The Terriers x 2 visited the Jerrabomberra wetlands on Monday afternoon to discover a hive of activity very close between the car park and first hide.
I suppose you could call it an early MFF with a profusion of small birds.
Although the species I am describing was was often within 5 metres I was unable to photograph it due to constant movement and thick undergrowth.
Like all of I have frequently observed grey fan tails over a lifetime of birding activity without giving them any particular scrutiny. However , one bird really attracted my attention because it did not appear to have much grey plumage at all .
As I remarked to senior birder T 1 , the underparts were clearly coloured a soft fawn shade.
Now at home and after checking with my field guide ( Menkhorst ) I consider the bird in question belongs to the Alisteri sub species.
I would be interested to learn whether any more experienced COG members could confirm my initial identification.
Sent from my iPad
