Curlews ?

[Ironwood]

I took these photos in front of my Fathers shed, he calls them Curlews, but they don't match up with my bird book, these birds have much shorter beaks than the Curlews in the book.

Does anyone recognise what they are ?

[Alan]

Bush Stone Curlew

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spec...nus-grallarius

The related Beach Stone-curlew, Esacus neglectus, has a much larger bill and more boldly marked face, and has little or no black streaking on the body.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_stone-curlew

Amazing birds

[seaslug]

Look like curlews to me.. Birds that think they are statues.

[Ironwood]

They act as statues until you get too close, then they sit down

[Ironwood]

Ahh, thanks for that Alan. My book doesn't have either of those Curlews.
It has the Little Curlew, Wimbrel, Eastern, and Eurasian Curlews. All with very long beaks.
Might be time for a new book

[Alan]

You probably won't find it under 'Curlew', (which will probably be listed under Waders), but under 'Stone Curlew'

I doubt you need a new book Which one are you using?

[Isac]

I have a great book called "Google". I just typed in "curlews" and the Bush Stone was top of the list. Amazing! Another one is the Bristle-thighed curlew. Good to keep your book though, you could print out the Google page and stick it in a folder and have an index in front. You could just use a spreadsheet (or by hand - I'm sure you can find the odd pen or two laying around) for an index and have little pictures next to the name of the bird. I have one and it's fabulous. I use it to search different characteristics like "red eyes", "orange feet" etc.After reading it a few times I actually learn quite a lot about all the birds I've photographed (and some I never will). Cheers.

[Ironwood]

Cheers Isac. I do use google now and then. But usually prefer to just flick through my book, works most times ( this one threw me though )

[Ironwood]

You probably won't find it under 'Curlew', (which will probably be listed under Waders), but under 'Stone Curlew'

I doubt you need a new book Which one are you using?

Alan, you are right again. In with the Bush Turkeys and Bustards are the Stone Curlews, who would have thought .
The book I have, and have found very helpful, is "The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds" (Knowing me, I must have got it cheap)

[Alan]

I started off way back when with Cayley's 'What Bird is That' (still have it)

Moved on to Slater's two volumes and now have 'Simpson and Day'

I also use a pocket edition of 'Regional Guide to the Birds of South-East Coast and Ranges' by Pizzey and Knight

[avkomp]

bush stone curlews always look like they are on drugs.
wish I had em available in the back yard like that.
not withstanding the background, 2 good pix of the species

[Ironwood]

Cheers Stephen. Yeah, the background is crappy. I had a few goes at trying to get them to move to a better spot, but not much luck, I got some other shots but there was always something in the background. My Dad feeds them, so he has them around quite often, I was there for two days recently, but they only visited the once.

[Ironwood]

Here are a few more shots of these birds...