Mysterious feathered friend…
We had a strange visitor on our deck this morning… not of the human variety (although the deck is quite used to strange humans) but another feathered creature…
He was perched uncertainly on the back of a timber chair, staring at his reflection in our kitchen window…
He was really astonishingly beautiful… not quite mature, we suspect.
With a beak a little like a kingfisher or kookaburra…
Long, strong talons perfect for grabbing prey and feathered legs (see following pics) not unlike a wedgetail eagle…
Dash has a little mate visiting – they were both enormously curious.
Luckily the bird was calm enough not to freak out when each tried to stroke his tail feathers…
Although I am not certain he enjoyed the attention.
He seems to be saying “Which is the right way OUT of here please!”
And despite encouragement from our resident critter tamers (Lachie and Cal) to stay and eat steakettes, he was soon on his way up, up and away.
Hours have been spent pouring over online bird catalogues but we are no closer to knowing the breed of our handsome feathered friend.
The closest guess we came up with was a Swamp Harrier. But the yellow doesn’t seem as apparent on anything we find…
Anyone out there know? Please share in comments!
🙂
BB
20 Comments
Andrew
Did you try this one? http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder
I will have a crack at it now.
Andrew´s last blog post ..Guns Don’t Kill People
Andrew
Nope. I think it may be a juvenile, and look different to an adult bird.
Andrew´s last blog post ..Guns Don’t Kill People
Colin (HB)
Yellow seems to be the in colour these days. The players at the Australian Open
seem to be all yellow orientated.
With the real feathery legs, might suggest a member of the hawk family???
Colin
Kylie
The only thing I could come up with is a juvenile channel billed cuckoo (the beak looks very similar)
http://www.waratahsoftware.com.au/pages/birds/wp_channelbilled_p1100035.html
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=channel+billed+birds&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fLz7UPe-B4-ciAe5wIDwBA&ved=0CFUQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=818#hl=en&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=channel+billed+juvenile&oq=channel+billed+juvenile&gs_l=img.3…3912.6389.0.6682.10.10.0.0.0.0.258.1413.5j1j4.10.0…0.0…1c.1.50ML_akz6E4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41248874,d.dGI&fp=bf0fd0a4e0d6ec9&biw=1280&bih=818
Amanda
Sent you a link on facebook. I kept thinking he looked a bit like a channel-billed cuckoo, but I hadn’t seen one that colour …. until I saw some pictures of juveniles and fledglings….
Amanda´s last blog post ..Dear Darl, it’s 18 January, 2013
Bush Babe
Check out the links to the Channel-billed Cuckoo here guys:
http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Ask+an+Expert/Question+of+the+month/Question+Archive/Questions/2011/September+2011
Reckon the last pic nails it!
🙂
debby
I think Amanda has cracked it. The bird is described as being pretty quiet natured, which describes your guest to a tee.
debby´s last blog post ..Useful things that I have learned this past week.
Andrew
Yep, that is it. It had to be young to be so human friendly. It may well be a cuckoo, but it does look like a serious hunting bird.
Andrew´s last blog post ..Guns Don’t Kill People
Kate
Wow!!! Don’t you just love people who read your blog? They are so helpful. Love your photos.
Kate´s last blog post ..Sunshine, freedom, and a little flower
Nancy in Iowa
He’s absolutely beautiful! And lucky boys, to get to touch him. Great job everyone of identifying him.
Colin (HB)
Well I have been “wikipediaing” (new word?).
I have looked at all the pictures of the Australian cuckoo varieties and this new bird on the Granite Belt does not look like any of them.
Maybe Amanda forward the photo to a zoo or bird santuary for classification/verification. I think it is
a member of the hawk family.
Colin
Leenie
Something cuckoo going on Downunder.
debby
*Snort of laughter*
debby´s last blog post ..Another Change
Bush Babe
Pair of comedians!! 😉
A Novel Woman
He’s GORGEOUS. How wonderful to be able to get so close to him.
A Novel Woman´s last blog post ..Country Walk In the City
rhubarb whine
What gorgeous colourings he has!
rhubarb whine´s last blog post ..On the Move
rhubarb whine
BB, What gorgeous colourings he has!
rhubarb whine´s last blog post ..Just Keep Swimming…
Marion
It’s a Friend of Lance Armstrong bird.
Bush Babe
Oh goodness… poor old Lance. Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse!! 😉
SquiggleMum
Definitely a juvenile Channel-billed Cuckoo 🙂
Yep, I’m a birdnerd.
SquiggleMum´s last blog post ..Reading Signs