feather

[martin cachard <>]

hi John, Philip, Greg and all...

this one is a mystery to me totally, and like Greg, I agree that it doesn't fit a Wompoo Fruit-Dove, or any other Australian species...

I am no feather expert at all, but do we all agree that the feather shows:

• a greenish leading vane, with a yellow trailing vane?
• it is showing it's from the upperside of the left wing (a remige, and not a retrix, because of the curved shape)?  
  

the closest match that I could see for an Aussie bird would be an inner primary of a male Princess Parrot (an escaped captive), BUT the colour of the vanes are the wrong way around!! so it can't be that...

it's a puzzle, and like Philip has said, a pic showing it's underside may help - but I doubt it would show it's from a local species though...

cheers,

martin cachard

trinity beach, cairns, fnq 

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From: Birding-Aus <> on behalf of Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Sunday, 27 January 2019 3:11 PM
To: 'Greg and Val Clancy'; 'calyptorhynchus';
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] feather

 

I looked at HANZAB too (today but not yesterday). Yes HANZAB differs from the Pizzey & Knight field guide in that feature. I suspect that is all it is. As to the question is which I more correct and are all individuals the same?  I don’t know. However the HANZAB underwing picture does show the inner webs of the primaries as dull yellow (though the upperwing picture does not). I don’t agree about “no yellow patch in that species” but not as much of the feather as the one John provided. I can’t find anything else that matches. The photo of the feather that John provided shows the upperside. The colour we are commenting on (not the green part) and comparing from these two references, is visible on only the underside of the feathers. It would not be unusual for the underside to be duller in colour than the upperside. So for now I still feel it matches. If John provides another photo of the underside, I would like to see that. I think that would help. I suspect it would be a better match.

 

Philip

 

From: Greg and Val Clancy [
Sent: Sunday, 27 January, 2019 1:41 PM
To: Philip Veerman; 'calyptorhynchus';
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] feather

 

Hi Philip and John,

 

My first impression as well was a Rainbow Lorikeet but that has been ruled out by Philip and I agree with his reasons.  It is not a Wompoo Fruit-Dove.  I checked in HANZAB and the underside of the remiges (primaries and secondaries) are grey grading to chestnut at base – no yellow patch in that species.  I can’t see any other parrot or pigeon species that has that pattern.  Could it be a foreign cage bird that has escaped?

 

Regards

 

Greg

Dr Greg. P. Clancy

Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide

Organizer, Gould League Bird Study Camp Club,

Greens’ candidate for the state seat of Clarence,

| PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460

| 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960

 http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com

 http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au

 

 

I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which I

live and work – the Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung peoples – and to pay

respect to their elders past, present and emerging

 

 

From: Philip Veerman

Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2019 6:42 PM

To: 'calyptorhynchus' ;

Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] feather

 

My first thought was Rainbow Lorikeet but doesn’t quite fit (they have a narrow distinct yellow band with black above and below on the inner web, with green on the outer web), nor any other parrot, which would be the obvious first group to choose. Whatever bird it is, the upper surface of the closed wing needs to be green and the under surface of the open wing needs to match the orangish colour, such that much of the underwing fits that colour. I believe it fits to Wompoo Fruit-Dove. Checking the Pizzey & Knight field guide, noting the underwing colours, it is an obvious match. I guess they would sometimes be at Brisbane Botanical Gardens. The size and shape would match also.

 

Philip.

 

From: Birding-Aus [ On Behalf Of calyptorhynchus
Sent: Saturday, 26 January, 2019 6:10 PM
To: <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] feather

 

Here's a feather pick dup in Brisbane Botanical Gardens. I can't think what bird has green and yellow feathers (about 4 cm long).

 

cheers

--

John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net

‘There is kinship between people and all animals. Such is the Law.’ Kimberley lawmen (from Yorro Yorro)

 

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