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gemfyreI should have posted this set a couple of months back (you will find out why when you read about the first bird). But, better late than never I suppose.
Rainbow Bee-eater - Merops ornatus
Photo by AndyT of Birdforum.
The Rainbow Bee-eater has to be one of the designer bird of Australia and is only seen in Perth at the Summer end of the year. They start arriving in late August and head back north between February and April. Keep an eye out at this time, they congregate in large flocks before migrating north again. Bee-eaters come south to breed and nest in holes, usually in riverbanks. They also seem fond of the large piles of sand that you often find near new housing developments. On the south-western side of Herdsman Lake there is a large sandhill that they are known to nest in. Bee-eaters are quite obliging and visible, and will usually sit on dead branches, occasionally flitting off to catch a bug before alighting again. The name gives away the Rainbow Bee-eater's most distinguising feature. The feathers of a bee-eater hold the entire spectrum of colours.
- When in flight the undersides of their wings flash orange-bronze.
- When perched they are overall green/blue.
- Males have long trailing black feathers on their tails. These can break off however.
- The beak is downcurved and relatively long.
- Bee-eaters unsurprisingly eat bees among other insects. Watch them hunting, they will violently fling their prey on a branch to remove the sting before eating.
- The call of a bee-eater is a loud "prrt" sound, some liken it to a telephone. When a whole flock is about they can get very loud.
The Rainbow Bee-eater is not a kingfisher, but it is a close relative, and is usually found on the same page of a field guide as the kingfishers.
Sacred Kingfisher - Todiramphus sanctus
Photo by mr_birdman of Birdforum.
The Sacred Kingfisher is also migratory, visiting Perth in the hotter months. You will often find them alone or in pairs near watercourses.
- Their call is a loud, squeaky "ke-ke-ke-ke".
- The back feathers are blue-green, in certain light it can look either more blue or more green.
- They have a white collar, eyebrow and front. The 'white' feathers usually have an orangey wash to them (this orangeness helps distinguish them from the rarer Collared Kingfisher up north - don't worry, they are the only small kingfisher in the Perth area, so there's no confusion).
- The bird in this photo has his tail cocked up, most of the time the tail is down.
On first impressions a Sacred Kingfisher will look like a small kookaburra. Which brings me to our final bird of the day.
Laughing Kookaburra - Dacelo novaeguineae
Photo by Peter Ericsson of Birdforum.
The Laughing Kookaburra is an iconic Australian bird with an equally iconic call. But in the south-west of Australia it is actually feral and threatens native birds due to its taste for nestlings. They also become very bold around humans and have been known to steal sausages still sizzling on the BBQ. They are the one of the largest kingfishers. I probably don't have to describe a Laughing Kookaburra to you (I say Laughing Kookaburra because up north there is the Blue-winged Kookaburra), but I will anyway.
- The bird is generally white on the front and brown on the back.
- In flight the blue in the wings is particularly noticeable.
- The bill is large and dark on top and pale beneath.
- Again, the bird in this photo is cocking it's tail. Most of the time they sit with the tail down.
- I don't have to describe the call, I'm sure you know it, even if you've never been to Australia.
Rainbow Bee-eater - Merops ornatus
Photo by AndyT of Birdforum.
The Rainbow Bee-eater has to be one of the designer bird of Australia and is only seen in Perth at the Summer end of the year. They start arriving in late August and head back north between February and April. Keep an eye out at this time, they congregate in large flocks before migrating north again. Bee-eaters come south to breed and nest in holes, usually in riverbanks. They also seem fond of the large piles of sand that you often find near new housing developments. On the south-western side of Herdsman Lake there is a large sandhill that they are known to nest in. Bee-eaters are quite obliging and visible, and will usually sit on dead branches, occasionally flitting off to catch a bug before alighting again. The name gives away the Rainbow Bee-eater's most distinguising feature. The feathers of a bee-eater hold the entire spectrum of colours.
- When in flight the undersides of their wings flash orange-bronze.
- When perched they are overall green/blue.
- Males have long trailing black feathers on their tails. These can break off however.
- The beak is downcurved and relatively long.
- Bee-eaters unsurprisingly eat bees among other insects. Watch them hunting, they will violently fling their prey on a branch to remove the sting before eating.
- The call of a bee-eater is a loud "prrt" sound, some liken it to a telephone. When a whole flock is about they can get very loud.
The Rainbow Bee-eater is not a kingfisher, but it is a close relative, and is usually found on the same page of a field guide as the kingfishers.
Sacred Kingfisher - Todiramphus sanctus
Photo by mr_birdman of Birdforum.
The Sacred Kingfisher is also migratory, visiting Perth in the hotter months. You will often find them alone or in pairs near watercourses.
- Their call is a loud, squeaky "ke-ke-ke-ke".
- The back feathers are blue-green, in certain light it can look either more blue or more green.
- They have a white collar, eyebrow and front. The 'white' feathers usually have an orangey wash to them (this orangeness helps distinguish them from the rarer Collared Kingfisher up north - don't worry, they are the only small kingfisher in the Perth area, so there's no confusion).
- The bird in this photo has his tail cocked up, most of the time the tail is down.
On first impressions a Sacred Kingfisher will look like a small kookaburra. Which brings me to our final bird of the day.
Laughing Kookaburra - Dacelo novaeguineae
Photo by Peter Ericsson of Birdforum.
The Laughing Kookaburra is an iconic Australian bird with an equally iconic call. But in the south-west of Australia it is actually feral and threatens native birds due to its taste for nestlings. They also become very bold around humans and have been known to steal sausages still sizzling on the BBQ. They are the one of the largest kingfishers. I probably don't have to describe a Laughing Kookaburra to you (I say Laughing Kookaburra because up north there is the Blue-winged Kookaburra), but I will anyway.
- The bird is generally white on the front and brown on the back.
- In flight the blue in the wings is particularly noticeable.
- The bill is large and dark on top and pale beneath.
- Again, the bird in this photo is cocking it's tail. Most of the time they sit with the tail down.
- I don't have to describe the call, I'm sure you know it, even if you've never been to Australia.
