There's something fishy about descriptions of Ospreys

Three Eastern Ospreys with a fish each. No sharing now, after months of the male keeping female and and advanced juvenile fed in their nest close to the road barely 500m into the Town Common Conservation Park. One of the three should have  slightly brighter eyes, just a wee bit golden say. And one, the male, should have lighter, less darkly streaked and shallower breast banding or bib. The juvenile should have feathers fringed with white. Says so in the books.  But in the real world things not so clearcut. So, three with fish each, two on nest, one flying off, as will they all - likely not too far. Take your pick for the ID task I've left to you.  Or not. Just enjoy another of nature's little puzzles.

 

 

Colourful spots guide for food - and twitchers

Spot anything of note on the young bird? Aha, little spots of colour. Right. So, what do the popular Australian bird guides say about the spots. Er, nothing. Nothing? Yep, nothing. You mean one of the country's most world famed bird species shows as a juvenile a major identifier and no guide notes it?

Yep. But home and commercial breeders would know all about Gouldian Finches and their colourful light-reflecting spots. Open wide and baby birds' gaping mouths become glowing targets for food delivery. Other species may use various bright targets inside the mouth. Such knowledge will aid ID out in the field: Star Finches and Gouldians are said to look alike, apart from the spots - nodules of skin that fall off. I noticed the feature only after photographing finches in the Belgian Gardens State School's aviaries. Shows how little I know. And, too, illustrators of the Australian bird guides.

Notes: The school sells endangered species. Chicks: Wikipedia under Creative Commons