Hi Ros,
As a child in the '30s on Tamborine Mt., Dragoon Bird was the name
we used for the noisy pitta. Never heard the name applied to Riflebirds.
Family lore was that riflebirds were called riflebirds because (in the early
settlement days anyway) when a rifle was fired the riflebird would often
immediately give its harsh call. Never had that confirmed and it sounds a
bit unlikely. Anyone else ever hear it?
Syd Curtis in Brisbane.
> From: Ros Laundon <>
> Dear All,
>
> There are several references to Dragoon Bird in older guides such as
> Pizzey (and Doyle) and Cayley. They refer to Noisy Pitta. From time to
> time I am told that "Dragoon Bird" was an old name for the Rifle Bird
> (sp?). I understood that this derived from the dragoons who wore rather
> georgeous uniforms and were armed with rifles (eventually). Can anyone
> settle this naming question please? I'm at the limit of my literary
> references.
>
> Ros.
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