Bird mysteries

["cstandfield via Canberrabirds " <>]

Good morning all,

I have a few bird mysteries as a novice Canberra birder and would be really appreciative of thoughts from more experienced birders/bird detectives. 

1 - Today I observed a sulphur-crested cockatoo with a severe "underbite" - the lower mandible was growing up over the upper, almost like its bill was upside down. I'm curious about what would cause it and how the bird has managed to survive. It looked a little bit scragglier than the others.

2 - At Nadjung Mada last weekend, I observed an odd robin that has stayed on my mind. I saw the Flames in a mob and then two other tan-grey robins with pale undersides separately. One was quite acrobatic - it flew high up into the air from its perch on the fence to nab an insect. Its colouring was something I couldn't find in the field guides or online photos for Flames - a neat, quite thin band of pale pinkish red across the top of its breast. Much paler and neater than the colouring I've seen on female Scarlet Robins. I also didn't see any other Scarlets. It had a plain face with a faint eye ring. It had pale wing bars but I didn't get a good look. Any ideas as to what it might have been? I am also willing to accept that it will just be yet another mystery bird! 

3 - I'm in search of the Bassian Thrush at ANBG. I was there yesterday around the same time it was last reported and I focused on the Rainforest Gully area, based on descriptions of its preferred habitat being wet forests. I'm wondering if I'm looking in the right area? I did see Common Blackbirds there. 

Thanks and happy birding,

Cat

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