ID Challenge 10 September 2020 P Plate by Sonja Ross
BirdLife Melbourne used to run a quarterly Boneseeding day to help control this weed at the You Yangs Regional Park, which is between Geelong and Melbourne. We used to do one or two bird walks in the morning, have lunch, spend a couple of hours pulling Boneseed, then a final bird walk for those who weren’t in a rush to get away. On the last one I went to these were some puddles left from recent rain, and these two little birds flew in to have a quick bath. P – what are they, and A – which sub-species.
The bird is quite widespread except for some desert areas and Tasmania.
Solution:
Well done to those who had a go today, and everyone correctly noted that the hovering birds were Australia’s smallest bird, the Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
The comments noted the stubby bill – something which distinguishes Weebills from Thornbills with which they are sometimes seen – and the pale eyebrow. None of the Thornbills have that in a plain face.
Their song is distinctive too. They often hover outside foliage to capture insects, a habit they share with some of the Thornbills, particularly Striated.
Everyone correctly said that the sub species was brevirostris, so again, well done.
Learn about Weebills here: http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/weebill
Women Birders Australia 