BLACK-THROATED FINCH

Photographed at Saltwater Creek October 2015

683         BLACK-THROATED FINCH          Poephila cincta

Australia       (525)

Also known as Black-rumped, Black-tailed or Parson Finch. 10 cm. Found in grassy scrubland/woodland/dune woodlands/pandanus near water. Range: ne Aust race: nigrotecta: n C York Pen. Nominate race: w. to Doomadgee, s to c Cloncurry-Winton-Clermont, e. to c. Townsville-upper Burdekin R. Sparse population in New England region (NSW). Sedentary; locally nomadic. Vulnerable

BLACK-BACKED BUTCHERBIRD

Photographed at Mushgrove Roadhouse, Queensland October 2015

682        BLACK-BACKED BUTCHERBIRD            Cracticus mentalis

Australia      (524)

Found in open forest/woodlands; watercourses, agricultural areas, settlements. 26-28 cm. Range: n. C York Pen. (Q), s. to Mitchell R. on w coast and to near Cooktown on the e. Common. Sedentary. 

GOLDEN-SHOULDERED PARROT

Photographed on Artemis Station, with the help of Sue Sheppard, October 2015

681       GOLDEN SHOULDERED PARROT         Psephotus chrysopterygius

Australia         (523) 

Also known as Ant-bed and Ant-hill Parrot. 25-27 cm. Found in open eucalypt, paperbark woodlands; grasslands with termite-mounds. Range: endemic to C. York Pen. (Q), where formerly widespread. Now mostly in aeea of c. Pen.; total population reduced to c. 150 pairs or c. 1000 birds of all ages after breeding. Decline due to increased burning which allowed encroachment of paperbark and other scrub on habitat, resulting in increased predation by birds such as pied butcherbird. Sedentary.

FAIRY GERYGONE

Photographed at Cooktown Botanic Gardens, Queensland October 2015

680      FAIRY GERYGONE           Gerygone palpebrosa

Australia            (522)

Race: personata, also known as Black-throated warbler. Found on the edges of lowland rainforest, vine forest, leafy trees on watercourses; eucalypt woodlands; scrubland; mangroves. Range: n and e Q and islands. Race: personata: Cape York Pen., s. to Atherton Tableland-Innesfail on e coast and Staten R on w coast. Race: flavida; coastal s. from c. Innesfail to Fraser Is., Tin Can Bay, Kin Kin, and Widgee in se Q. Fairly common,Sedentary. The distinctive races do overlap and interbreed.

Female

Nest, the bottom has caught on a branch as it swayed in the wind.