Hi Kurtis,
I've observed similar behaviour with our resident female Satin BB.
She'll sit in the conifer in the backyard, for an hour or more,
mimicking one species at a time. Aussie raven is a favourite, also the
YTBC, Glossy-Black and even Ringtail possum. Have you heard it imitate
anything else? Unlike Superb Lyres, ours seems to lock onto one bird
at a time, rather than rolling constantly through the whole
repertoire.
I'd often thought the fascination with the raven was a strategy to
scare off intruders. She almost always hides in the foliage, and sits
very still...
EB
On 6/18/08, Kurtis Lindsay <> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have been watching a juvenile Satin Bowerbird which has been sitting in a
> eucalypt in my backyard for the past twenty minutes.
> The interesting thing about this bowerbird is, despite uttering the usual
> satin bowerbird calls (the odd 'mechanical' buzzing, chattering and scolding)
> it is mimicing the calls of one other bird, the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo.
> YTBC's aren't very common around my place, but bowerbirds are. The thing I
> find unusual though is how this bird is only mimicing one other species (it
> is doing a pretty good job of it too).
> The rendition involves the complete 'advertising call' of the Yellow-tailed
> Black Cockatoo (the call they use in flight - "wheeeeeelya"), along with the
> softer calls YTBC's use while feeding, and I'm pretty sure I can even hear an
> imitation of the 'cracking' sounds YTBC's make when they're feeding on
> Banksia pods or Pine Cones.
>
> Perhaps this young Bowerbird is having identity issues and is striving to
> become a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo! :)
>
> Just then a group of Noisy Miners flew in to mob the imposter and drive it
> away. They failed!
>
> Regards,
>
> Kurtis Lindsay
> www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
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--
Evan Beaver
Lapstone, Blue Mountains, NSW
lat=-33.77, lon=150.64
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