Archive for the 'General' Category

• Belly: the lower underpart of the body of a bird down to where the tail feathers start.

White is a common feature of so many of our birds. Almost as common is the use of ‘white’ in the descriptive common name given to some species. The White-Bellied Sea-Eagle (see photo below) is one such bird. The belly is the part one often sees most clearly as this species soars or glides overhead. Often it is the only part you see as you get a fleeting glimpse of this beautiful bird.

The colour of the belly can assist the birder in the identification process. Other species where the belly colour can be helpful are the White Fronted Chat, the White Fronted Honeyeater, the Lemon-Bellied Flycatcher, the White-Bellied Cuckoo-Shrike. Another species where the belly colour is important is the Orange-Bellied Parrot, though I couldn’t really say because I haven’t actually seen this one yet.

For more in this series of articles check out the Glossary of Bird Words here.

White-Bellied Sea-Eagle

• Bar: a band across the breast, tail or wing of a bird that is contrasting in colour or shading.

When trying to identify birds in the field I look for any special features that might distinguish that bird from another species. Bands or bars of colour can be very distinctive and can help ID one species from another. In the photo of the Rainbow Lorikeet below, the orange bar or band across the chest allows one to instantly identify this species. No other parrot looks just like this one.

For more in this series of articles check out the Glossary of Bird Words here.

• Axillaries: feathers that cover the underside of the wing in the region of the ‘armpit’ of the bird, that is, where the wing joins the body. In some species it is distinctly coloured.

The fact that some species of birds have distinctive coloured axillaries – feathers under the wings (or their ‘armpits’) – is a diagnostic feature. In this area we have Musk and Purple Crowned Lorikeets. They are very hard to identify as they fly bullet-like from tree to tree looking for food.

I think I have the slight difference in their calls nailed, but the distinctive red ‘armpit’ patch tells me it is a Purple Crowned Lorikeet, and the absence of this colour indicates a Musk Lorikeet.

For more in this series of articles check out the Glossary of Bird Words here.

Musk Lorikeet

• Accidental: when a species is observed in an area or region where it is a long way from its normal range or distribution, it is said to be ‘accidental’.

A few years ago there was an accidental occurrence of a male Rose Robin here in Murray Bridge. Apparently it is a totally beautiful bird but I didn’t get to see it. I was in bed with the flu that week. [Sigh] I still haven’t seen this species. [Bigger sigh].

The Rose Robin is found through eastern and southern Australia. Its normal habitat is wet rainforests and in dense wet gullies. None of these exist in Murray Bridge. However, it does occur from time to time in the Adelaide Hills, about 60-70kim to the west. It must have been on its way there and decided to have a few days holiday by the river.

As I said, I still haven’t seen this species, so I haven’t taken a photo of a Rose Robin. The next best is this photo of a Red Capped Robin. Just pretend the red is rose coloured.

For more in this series of articles check out the Glossary of Bird Words here.