> Yeah,...I've heard Brown Thornbills (Acanthiza pusilla) issuing all sorts
> of vocal mimicry as they are extracted from a mist net or being banded.
> Amidst a string of such apparent mimicry from this species, I've
> frequently heard what sounds to me like a very good rendition of the
> commonly heard (at least around here,...southern Mt. Lofty Ra., SA) alarm
> call of the New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). But
> the apparent mimicry doesn't sound like just one honeyeater, it sounds
> like a small group of honeyeaters issuing their alarm (eg., in the
> presence of a threatening raptor), and has a (perhaps not so surprisingly
> for such a small bird as the thornbill) beautiful quality of 'distance'
> and an air of ventriloquy about it.
I have heard Inland Thornbills mimic the alarm calls of White-plumed
Honeyeaters, at Charcoal Tank NR near West Wyalong, NSW. This mimicry is
quite common with these thornbills, with calls made as they are extracted
from mist nets and banded.
Anthony Overs
Barren Grounds Bird Observatory
PO Box 3
JAMBEROO 2533
Ph : 02 42360195
Fax : 02 42360537
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