I see – and hear - Figbirds in my yard quite frequently but seldom as close as this. I had been sitting inside and heard these birds just outside the window so grabbed the camera and went outside as quickly and quietly as I could. These photos are the result. The female in the first photograph had a sour cherry in the beak from my neighbour's bush and the male sat there and watched until she had finished.
Wow - beautiful birds, and very nicely captured!
ReplyDeleteNot much appeal in Figbirds' diet, but I'd fight them for good sour cherries.
ReplyDeleteMick, what a lucky and gorgeous capture.Isn't he a darling to keep watch while she feeds with a quiet mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick.
ReplyDeleteNice photos of the Fig Birds.
As a matter of interest, can you give me another name for the "Sour Cherry". I knew people in Canberra who grew something they called a "Sour Cherry" which was a type of Prunus. Yours doesn't look like a true cherry fruit. Any idea what type of fruit it might be?
Cheers
Denis
Thanks for your comments Christopher, Tony, Arija, and Denis. I don't know the proper name for that cherry but have heard it called the Brazilian Cherry.
ReplyDeleteNice ones Mick. What's their call like?
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Gouldiae
Fig birds - now that's a new one for me. What amazing face colours! Nice capture Mick. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gouldiae, I think their call is quite melodious. Slater says: "Pleasant warbling". I must try and record more of the sounds I hear around the backyard.
ReplyDeleteHi Tricia, we certainly have different birds. I find that's one thing that makes reading blogs from overseas so interesting.
ReplyDeleteBeaut photos of the Figbirds Mick, we get the odd one right down here, haven't caught up with them though.
ReplyDeleteThanks Duncan.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick
ReplyDeleteBrazilian Cherry makes sense.
It is a Eugenia, which the native Lillypillies were once grouped with - now split off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenia_uniflora
Photos on Wikipedia look right for the berry in the Figbird's beak.
Well done. Thanks
Denis
Thank you Denis, that is very interesting. It sounds like an interesting tree to have in the yard. Must have a closer look at how it is growing in the neighbour's yard. I am not a great gardener (its always more interesting to be out kayaking on the bay :-) )so have only planted those things that I see growing well in yards around me.
ReplyDeleteGood catch!
ReplyDeleteThey're chatty birds in a flock. Almost as vocal as lorikeets.
Hi Snail, so far I haven't had any flocks - just 2 or 3 birds together so I haven't heard that chatty behaviour you describe. Lorikeets - yes definitely they are always around in great numbers and very noisy.
ReplyDeleteGreat capture of great birds. The colors are intoxicating.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos! What great birds to watch, I love being able to sit and study a bird like that, especially if you don't normally get a close look at them.
ReplyDeleteGood birding to you!
Thanks for visiting Birdfreak and Sparverius
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images, Mick! I've never even heard of figbirds before -- always enjoy seeing birds from the other side of the world. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kyle
ReplyDeleteNice photos Mick! Figbirds are new to me too. I'm glad this is a world-wide thing so everyone can discover beyond their little corner of the world.
ReplyDeleteHi Red, I agree that the worldwide coverage makes this very interesting.
ReplyDelete