birding-aus

birding-aus Robinson Crusoe's mystery birds

To: birding-aus <>
Subject: birding-aus Robinson Crusoe's mystery birds
From: "Andrew Thelander" <>
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 20:02:41 +0000
Any experts on South American birds out there who can help me identify some
birds?  I have been researching the true story of Alexander Selkirk's
marooning on Greater Land, one of the Juan Fernandez island group, 400 miles
west of Chile.  Daniel Defoe used Selkirk's story as a model for Robinson
Crusoe. 
Apparently, Selkirk took up birding as a hobby to pass the lonely days and
he was particularly interested in -
1. a dark bird with a red breast which he thought resembled a blackbird, and
2. a multicolored hummingbird "no bigger than a large humble bee."
Any suggestions on what species these were would be appreciated.
Andrew Thelander
PO Box 302
Pomona QLD 4568

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