Noisy Miner

Manorina melanocephala leachi

Appearance:

Grey bird

Black crown and cheeks

Orange-yellow bill and legs

Yellow panel in wings

Yellow patch behind eyes

White tips on tail feathers

This is another of the birds that I saw while at Bonorong.  It was pecking at a picture of itself on the wall, quite violently at times.  I'm not sure whether it was showing affection for the 'other bird' or trying to challenge it, as I've read that they are aggressive birds that often peck at and chase intruders.

 

Learn more about the Noisy Miner.

Eastern Rosella

Platycercus eximius

Appearance:
Medium-sized parrot
White cheeks
Red head, neck and breast
Black back, each feather broadly edged yellowish-green
Bright blue shoulders
Yellow belly
Blue-green to yellow-green lower abdomen and rump
Red undertail
Off-white bill
Female:
      Slightly duller overall
Juvenile:
     Duller overall
    Yellow-orange bill

This bird and his 'friends' were feeding on the ground yesterday at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.  Like us, they were just visiting.  However, this family of wallabies were residents at the centre.  (I know they aren't birds but I couldn't resist including them.  The little joey is so cute!)

Learn more about the Eastern Rosella.

Black Currawong

Strepera fuliginosa

Appearance:
Large black bill
Black plumage
White tipped wings and tail
Yellow eyes
Black legs

When I initially saw these birds, I automatically thought of ravens. Their large size and black plumage certainly are raven-like. However, a few things gave them away.  First was the white on their tails and wings, and second was the yellow eyes.  And finally, their call is much less grating than a raven's, whose call really is quite comical.

The Black Currawong is one of twelve species of birds that are endemic to Tasmania. This means  they are found nowhere else on earth.

Learn more about the Black Currawong.

Scarlet Robin

Petroica multicolor

male

 Appearance:
Small, plump bird
Medium-sized robin
White forehead
Male:
     Black head, neck and upperparts
     Scarlet breast
     Whitish lower underparts
     White wing bars and outer tail feathers
Female:
     Brown upperparts and wings
     Orange-red wash on breast
     White lower underparts

female

We are currently staying at a delightful cottage outside of Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula. The property is alive with birds (and wallabies), including these little ones who seem to have taken up permanent residence in the front bushes.

Learn more about the Scarlet Robin.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Cacatua galerita

 

Appearance:
Large cockatoo
Mostly white
Yellow, forwarded-curving crest
Yellow undertail and underwing
Black bill
Grey legs
White eye-ring
Male:
    Black eyes
Female:
    Reddish-brown eyes



These birds are impossible to miss with their extremely loud screeching. They seem to be rather plentiful, often congregating in large flocks.  I have seen them everywhere in Tasmania, both feeding on the ground and in trees. Apparently they like walnuts, or at least that was what one gentleman told me as he angrily shooed a very large number of them out of his yard.  It's hard to imagine such beautiful birds being considered pest.  

Learn more about the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

Appearance:
Large kingfisher 
Large, creamy-white head
Dark brown stripe through each eye 
Brown stripe over the top of the head
Very large bill, black on top / bone coloured on bottom
Creamy-white underparts 
Brown wings and back 
Sky blue spots on shoulders
Rusty reddish-orange tail, with dark brown bars 

I don't know about gum trees but Kookaburras certainly like to sit on hydro wires.  We spotted at least one of them each day as we drove around Tasmania. I never heard any laughter though. They were all sitting quietly on their perch looking out over the world.

Learn more about the Laughing Kookaburra.

Galah

Cacatua roseicapilla

Appearance:
Pink head, neck and underparts 
Light pink crown
Grey back, wings and rump
Off-white bill
Grey legs
Male:
     Dark brown irises
Female:
     Mid-brown or red irises

I photographed these birds in the parking lot at Tasmania's Boat Harbour Beach, which might just be the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. Honestly, it was absolutely gorgeous -- secluded and quiet.  Well, except for the Galah. They were congregating there in a noisy feeding flock.

Learn more about the Galah.