Aplonis metallica

2 Metallic Starling at Narrabundah, ACT

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Identification history

Aplonis metallica	20 Dec 2017	ChrisDavey
Aplonis metallica	17 Dec 2017	ArcherCallaway
Unidentified	17 Dec 2017	RobParnell

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7 comments

ArcherCallaway wrote:

18 Dec 2017

Very interesting Rob - from first glance it seemed like a very unusual bird, and while the only logical option that I can see is Olive-backed Oriole, it does not seem to match. The intensity of the red eye, amplified by a very sharply-defined divide between the dark green around the eyes and the white throat seems unusual, and for the eye to be so red if it was an oriole it would have to be an adult bird which should not have a black beak. The appearance of the streaking also does not seem typical of an oriole. Having done some digging (jumping a few similar species in the field guide), one which does seem a good match is the juvenile Metallic Starling. The pointy tail in the photo further supports that theory, as well as the apparent lack of the patterning found on the wings of Orioles. If so, that would be way out of range. I don't know, would people keep starlings? Anyhow would be very interested in yours, Chris', and other's opinions. If I'm right it would be a very significant record although it's origin will likely remain contentious.

ChrisDavey wrote:

18 Dec 2017

I agree, very odd. I will ask others for their views. Chris

ChrisDavey wrote:

19 Dec 2017

Hi Rob, as Ryu indicated this is most unusual. Is there any chance that this bird could be an aviary escapee and could you please confirm that the image was taken in Narrabundah on 16th December 2017. Has it been seen again? There is no doubt that the image is of a Metallic Starling but it is so far out of its range, normally central id coast that the very few NSW records have all been allocated as aviary escapees. Chris

RobParnell wrote:

19 Dec 2017

G'day Chris Regarding the chance that the bird is an aviary escape: A house on the corner (Strzelecki & Captain Cook) has some non-natives in a cage. My friend Doug Laing passed the photos on to Simon Bennett who passed them on to Jeff Davies who posted a photo on an avicultural facebook site. Mick Logan from Canberra Walk in Aviary confirmed (on that site) that they did not keep the species.
I can confirm that I took the photo on 16 Dec 2017. The time was 7.25pm. The photos record 7.25am which is incorrect. As you will know there were some large storms moving through that afternoon. I have not seen or heard the bird again.
Doug has suggested I write up for Canberra Bird Notes. I don't want to duplicate my sighting, however should I put it on the COG email "chatline"? Rob

ArcherCallaway wrote:

19 Dec 2017

Certainly ok to post to the chatline and I'm sure people will be interested, although probably a low likelihood of anyone being able to relocate this bird.
There is no issue of duplication with the chatline as it is purely a communication channel for birders, and records are not extracted from it.

RobParnell wrote:

19 Dec 2017

thanks Ryu
Steve Sass from On the Perch bird park in Tarthra has confirmed (on Facebook) that they have a small colony of Metallic Starlings and that all are accounted for.
Rob

A.mitchell wrote:

23 May 2019

The bird is also a juvenile, which suggests that someone was raising it.

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