Hello birdos,
Over the past few days I have spent some time birding on a friend's
property down in Winchelsea, south-central Victoria. Two local
currawongs were observed on several occasions and appeared as Grey
Currawongs of the race 'melanoptera'. Both birds gave characteristic
calls of Grey Currawong. One bird was slightly darker than the second,
but both birds appeared as "black" currawongs, lacking any white to the
base of the tail feathers but showing considerably more white at the
base of the primaries than depicted for 'melanoptera'. I travelled to
Kangaroo island only several months ago where I observed many
'melanoptera' Grey Currawongs, all showing considerably less of a white
window than these two birds. What do you make of these birds?
Has 'melanoptera" expanded its range? Are there records of
'melanoptera' east of South Australia? Is hybridisation between Pied and
Grey Currawong a possibility?
Comments appreciated.
Regards,
Paul
Paul Rose
Head of Learning - Science (Yr 7-10)
Year 9 Purple Team
Department of Biology and Chemistry
Wesley College - Glen Waverley
620 High Street Road
Glen Waverley 3150
(03) 9881 5426
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