As I perused my GBS precinct this morning, I saw a bird that I cannot identify. I got a quite long look at it, but it has me stumped:
- First impression: currawong, but
- Shorter, more squat tail, cut off square
- No white on bird at all
- Colour more like very dark charcoal than fully black
- Dark bill distinctly hooked on the end – more like a butcherbird than a currawong
- The wing coverts seemed to have a suggestion of a bluey tinge – rather indistinct
- Eyes were not yellow, dark but with a suggestion of some coloration around the eyes
- The flight was not like a currawong but reminded me of a bowerbird.
Any ideas, besides my state of sanity?
Also seen was a cloud of Spotted Pardalotes – at least 15 in number. Many alighted on a prunus tree with a Weebill family which visits everyday lately. With many small birds in this tree, it looked like it was hanging
with fruit.
David Rosalky
