Monday, July 26, 2010

Golden, tawny, or browned off?

Bird names can be somewhat colourful. Is this Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) - on the alert amid scleria - really so golden? 


Was someone on the mark or on the port in naming the Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis)?


The birds may look alike, because they share grassland habitat, but the small Cisticolas tend to avoid the shaded branchy bushes the bigger Tawnys go to when disturbed. Further to my point, Tawnys always sound browned off.  

3 comments:

mick said...

Hmmm! Those look like two of the LBJs (Little Brown Jobs!) I always have such difficulty with. However, if they'd sit nice and still and show off their lovely colors as in your photos I must have less difficulty with them!

Andy said...

Stopped by for a visit and enjoying your photos.
Cheers!

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Mick: Cisticolas do pose on sunny morns; Tawnys not so helpful.

Hi Andy: Thanks for stopping by.

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