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Grey Shrike-thrushAlternative names: "Harmonious Thrush", "Native Thrush", "Pluff", "Mourner", "Whistling Dick" Aboriginal name: "dharruwii" [yuwaalaraay] |
Sightings
A common bird, easily noticed because of its superb singing skills, but hard to observe out in the bush, because normally shy. However, when used to the presence of humans, can become very approachable, even tame when fed. We have seen Grey Shrikethrushes occasionally at Sawn Rocks, Mount Kaputar National Park, New South Wales, first in August 2005, but also along Bohena Creek, 20 km south of Narrabri.
Seen only very rarely 20 km east of Narrabri, in quite open farmland with paddocks and interspersed remnant bushland, but common just 10 km further east, on the western fringes of Mt. Kaputar National Park.
Also seen at a bush property 20 km north of Coonabarabran in September 2006.
We spotted Grey Shrikethrushes in many places on a trip along the Darling River to the Flinders and Gammon Ranges, South Australia, in March 2008.
Photos
Lateral view of a Grey Shrike-thrush in the Gammon Ranges (click on image for larger version)
Near-frontal view of a Grey Shrike-thrush checking who is crawling through the underbrush (click on image for larger version)
Grey Shrike-thrush in our former garden (click on image for larger version)
Grey Shrike-thrush in our former garden (click on image for larger version)
Grey Shrike-thrush collecting thin strips of bark as nesting material; this particular specimen is not shy at all - it is preparing a nest in a hanging flowerpot under the awning of a building
Nest
Grey Shrike-thrush carrying nesting material (click on image for larger version)
The nest shown here was still under construction by the bird in the photo above and its partner; since they were still carrying mostly bark for the outer walls, it is possible that finer material for lining the inside was still to follow.
Grey Shrike-thrush nest on the ground, hidden in dense growth under a wattle tree (click on image for larger version)