ID required

[Isac]

I photographed this bird at our local lake and can't find out what it is. Your help is required. I know someone in our AP family will be able to help.

[timmo]

I think he/she is a moorhen. Perhaps a juvenile because normally they are jet black and the beak and feet
are much more a deep saturated red
cheers
tim

[Isac]

I think he/she is a moorhen. Perhaps a juvenile because normally they are jet black and the beak and feet
are much more a deep saturated red
cheers
tim

I'll take that for now Tim, thanks. It's the green beak which has me puzzled though.

[timmo]

yeah me too with the beak...mayabe it changes color as the bird matures??
cheers
tim

[avkomp]

black tailed native hen for me
about the only thing I can think of with a red and green beak.

[Alan]

Agree

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=b...w=1352&bih=806

[Isac]

Many thanks Stephen and Alan. Maybe my search criteria was a bit vague.

[avkomp]

Isac: not at all.

if you shoot birds a bit, you know what families look like, then you only need to check that family out to get an id.
or you might even recognise it outright and not have to look it up.

is a case of what you are into

[Isac]

Thanks Stephen. If I had used "rallidae" I would have found it. But I kept with moorhens and I could not find it. Thanks again.

[avkomp]

you doing better than me,

I didnt know rallidae. lousy with latin (is all greek to me. all roman to me doesnt make sense)

bill shape etc is more like the crakes and similar native hens.
sometimes is worth having a field guide or 2 laying around so you can thumb thru.
can be quicker than an online id hunt too.

[Alan]

You may be able to find a local bird ID book.

I have a couple just for the Canberra region and it really speeds up IDs by eliminating a lot of possibilities.

[Isac]

you doing better than me, I didnt know rallidae. lousy with latin (is all greek to me. all roman to me doesnt make sense)
bill shape etc is more like the crakes and similar native hens.
sometimes is worth having a field guide or 2 laying around so you can thumb thru.
can be quicker than an online id hunt too.

Thanks Stephen. I'm doing up my own reference book, that way I sort of know in advance what's what. But I have never seen this fella before. I think it's rare in these parts.

You may be able to find a local bird ID book. I have a couple just for the Canberra region and it really speeds up IDs by eliminating a lot of possibilities.

Thanks for that Alan, as above I'm compiling my own booklet. so all is good.