I was in the bathroom, getting ready for work this morning when I heard a crash and a thump. Bill called out, "What was that?" I thought for a moment it was him, he thought it was me but no It was a bird crashing into the window. It was in a heap on the floor of the balcony. I ran for my camera. When I returned it was in a dazed state trying to get away. It climbed onto the wires and teetered there for a a short time. Then it took on a take off pose and somehow managed to launch itself. It flew to the safety of the trees no doubt with a sore head.
The strange thing is I have never seen this type of bird before. It looks like a parrot but with a stubby tail and a pale blue/grey head. I think it had red on its belly as well as yellow.
It is much bigger than a Lorikeet. I have checked in both my bird books and can't find one with a tail like that, a yellow stripe on its wings and a pale head. So if there are any birders out there who can help with identification it would be appreciated.
It happens here from time to time too, then I have to pick it up (because of the cats) and put it up on the hedge, usually after a while they fly away. Of course not such beauties as you have there !
ReplyDeleteLooks like a cross between a pigeon and a parrot! Most unusual. Must be because you said yesterday you were giving birds a go... it decided to visit you.
ReplyDeleteCannot help you a bit---but I'm glad that the bird is okay, and got away (even if it had a headache)....
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures.. I hope you find out what it is....
Hope Bill is doing okay.
Hugs,
Betsy
Great shots of your bird, whatever he is. Hope someone can identify it for you.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like it had a parrot for a mama and a pigeon for a daddy! :-) LOL!!
ReplyDeleteI will take a look in my bird book and see if there is anything that resembles it.
I think it is a Wompoo Fruit Dove (ptilinopus magnificus). Grows to 56cm and sexes are alike. Troipical and sub-tropical rainforest. Hangs upside down on branches feeding on berries and fruit. Its call is a loud and deep bubbling 'whompoo'.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, Diane - the expression "blind as a bat" comes to mind. Perhaps it should be changed to blind as a bird? I too thought it was a parrot but the markings are unusual and the beak looks different.
ReplyDeleteI laughed about your description of Melbournians in shorts and tshirts. An English lady said they could always tell the Australians in England - they were the ones dressed in jumpers and long thick pants when they (the English) were dressed in summer dresses and/or shorts.
Cheers.
Melbourne Daily Photo
Diane, sorry I can not help with the id. I am happy it wasn't hurt. It is a beautiful bird!
ReplyDeleteGood grief! It sure looks different - colours of a parrot and shape and beak of a pigeon! Pity you were not able to catch it!
ReplyDeleteSend the photo to some bird watching authority, I really would love to know what it was/is!
I just wonder if some "weirdo" caught a dove and dyed the feathers? Nothing would surprise me these days.
Great shot anyhow.
Colin (HB)
poor bird. hope it's ok. same thing happened here when i first moved in. was sitting on the bed upstairs when an almightly crash. bird (galah) flew away. i suppose it's a fairly common thing.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane and Bill.
ReplyDeleteI talked to our local bird expert...Jonathan Pickvance, and he very quickly identified it as:
A Wompoo Fruit Dove.
So there you go.
David
Well -- it was nice of it to pose for you! Glad the head bump didn't do any permanent damage. (You would have had a pretty interesting excuse for being late for work!)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks David for this information and verification:
ReplyDeleteHere is the info: Courtesy of "google".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wompoo_Fruit-dove
I lived in PNG for 6 years where there were many strange birds, but never did I see anything like this.
Cheers
Colin (HB)
This is why I don't wash my windows. Well, that's my excuse. I wash them on the inside and just hose them off outside. I got tired (and upset) of picking up dead birds on the porch that had crashed into the glass. We have a lot of windows. Pretty bird! Glad it was ok.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, I think this is a dove or a pigeon. I have never seen such a colourful one. I will check and let you know. the photos are fantastic. Some doves or pigeons come and disappear again, generally they do not stay a whole season. Only the little crested pigeons they stay around.
ReplyDeleteIt's both beautiful and strange!
ReplyDeleteIt's a Wompoo Fruit Dove.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful dove. I never knew something like this could exist.
David
Oh, hope he's OK..the last one that flew into our window didn't make it.. :-(
ReplyDeleteIt doe shave similar features to ur mourning doves (the head)