Regent Honeyeater at Newstead, Vic.

[Lawrie Conole <>]

Philip A. Veerman wrote:

Actually Chris, you mention "(well documented and summarised in HANZAB)", as the person who first described this phenomenon, I was disappointed that although HANZAB does mention it in passing, it does barely mention the significance and uniqueness of this behaviour (as acknowledged by various international experts on bird vocalisations such as Peter Slater of University of St Andrews, Clive Catchpole, David Dobkin and Peter McGregor). Mimicry of Little Wattlebird by the Regent Honeyeater is standard in those parts. 

In defence of Mr Tzaros, I think the reason he commented on the Little Wattlebird
mimimcry in particular also occurred to me as interesting.  Little Wattlebirds
don't occur within the current main range of the Regent Honeyeater in Victoria
(mostly north-east Victoria, with odd forays into central and southern parts
of the state).  

It occurred to me that this particular Regent Honeyeater might be:

1. an old bird that has spent time down in Melbourne in the past (where Little Wattlebirds DO occur, and can be locally abundant), or
2. a bird which spends/spent time within Little Wattlebird range in NSW, or
3. dunno.

Either way, in Newstead it is well and truly lost - though in former
Regent Honeyeater haunts ... and there are no Little Wattlebirds in those
parts.

BTW, I haven't seen/heard this Newstead bird, but found the topic of interest.

-- 
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Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology
 
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