r'~~ BANDER'S AID~ ·

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A Guide to Ageing and Sexing Bush Birds

By: Ken Rogers Annie Rogers Danny Rogers With Assistance from: Brett Lane Bruce Male For Australian Banders

BANDER'S AID - ERRATUM

~p 67-68~ Clamorous Reed-warbler. In ~~ .. _ II Measurement" s~cti f aexlflq and ver~a _ L. ons, Dr "male" read "female" and vice :::t. Male~~ af-e generally lar'ger' than females.

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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry Rogers, Ken, 1939- , Bander's aid: a guide to ageing and sexing bush birds. Bibliography. Includes index. ISBN 1 86252 640 O. 1. Bird-banding - Australia. 2. Birds - Research ­ Australia. I. Rogers, Annie, 1938- II. Rogers, Oanny, 1966- . III. Title. I 598' .07' 2320994 ,

Copyright © Ken Rogers, Annie Rogers, Danny Rogers, 1986 Published by A. Rogers, Lot 17, Ninks Road, st Andrews, Victoria, Australia,3761 ,-

CONTENTS

PREFACE Page 1 FOREWORO by David Purchase 3 Chapter 1- INTROOUCTION 5 2. WHAT'S IN THE SPECIES OESCRIPTIONS 7 J. A NOTE ON TECHNIQUES 11 iI. CAUTIONS 23 5. SPECIES OESCRIPTIONS 25 r- Button-quails, Painted Button-quail 26 Native-hens Tasmanian Native-hen 26 Pigeons, Ooves Peaceful Dove 27 Brush Bronzewing 28 Crested Pigeon 29 Parrots Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 29 Little Lorikeet 30 Green Rosella 31 Crimson Rosella 31 Eastern Rosella 32 Red-rumped Parrot 33 Turquoise Parrot 34 Cuckoos Brush Cuckoo 35 Fan-tailed Cuckoo 35 Black-eared Cuckoo 36 Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo 37 Shining Bronze-Cuckoo 38 Kingfishers Laughing Kookaburra 38 Sacred Kingfisher 39 ,. Bee-eaters Rainbow Bee-eater 40 f Old World Larks Skylark 41 Swallows, Martins Welcome Swallow 42 Tree Martin 42 Fairy Martin 43 Cuckoo-shrikes, etc Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike 44 White-winged Triller 44 Thrushes Blackbird 45 Song Thrush 47 Southern Scrub-robin 47 Robins Robins Identification Guide 48 Rose Robin 49 Pink Robin 49 Flame Robin 50 , Scarlet Robin 51 ,1 Red-capped Robin 52 Hooded Robin 53 Dusky Robin 54 Eastern Yellow Robin 55 Jacky Winter 56 Shrike-tits Crested Shrike-tit 56 Whistlers Olive Whistler 57 Gilbert's Whistler 58 Golden Whistler 59 Rufous Whistler 60 Shrike-thrushes, Grey Shrike-thrush 61 Other Flycatchers Crested Bellbird 62 Rufous Fantail 62 Grey Fantail 63 Willie Wagtail 64 Quail-thrushes Chestnut Quail-thrush 65 Babblers White-browed Babbler 66 Old World Warblers Clamorous Reed-Warbler 67 Rufous Song lark 68 Fairy-wrens Superb Fairy-wren 69 Variegated Fairy-wren 70 "

5. SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS (Continued) Scrubwrens, White-browed Scrubwren Page 71 Thornbills, etc Shy Hylacola 72 Speckled Warbler 73 Weebill 74 Western Gery~one 75 Brown Thornblll 75 Inland Thornbill 76 , Tasmanian Thornbill 77 BUff-rumped Thornbill 78 Yellow-rumped Thornbill 78 Yellow Thornbill 79 Striated Thornbill 79 Treecreepers White-throated Treecreeper 80 Red-browed Treecreeper 81 Brown Treecreeper 82 Honeyeaters Red Wattlebird 83 Yellow Wattlebird 84 Noisy Friarbird 85 Little Friarbird 86 Bell Miner 86 Noisy Miner 87 Yellow-faced Honeyeater 88 White-eared Honeyeater 89 Yellow-throated Honeyeater 90 Yellow-tufted Honeyeater 90 Purple-gaped Honeyeater 91 Yellow-plumed Honeyeater 92 Fuscous Honeyeater 93 White-plumed Honeyeater 94 Black-chinned Honeyeater 95 Strong-billed Honeyeater 96 Brown-headed Honeyeater 97 White-naped Honeyeater 97 Black-headed Honeyeater 98 Brown Honeyeater 99 Crescent Honeyeater 100 New Holland Honeyeater 101 White-cheeked Honeyeater 102 White-fronted Honeyeater 103 Eastern Spinebill 104 Flowerpeckers Mistletoebird 105 Pardalotes Spotted Pardalote 106 Striated Pardalote 107 White-eyes Silvereye 108 True Finches European Goldfinch 108 European Greenfinch 1D9 , Old lorld Sparrows House Sparrow 110 Tree Sparrow 111 Grass-finches, etc Red-browed Firetail 112 Diamond Firetail 112 Zebra Finch 113 Starlings Common Starling 115 Orioles Olive-backed Oriole 116 loodswallows White-browed Woodswallow 116 Dusky Woodswallow 117 Butcherbirds, Grey Butcherbird 118 Currawongs Black Currawong 118 Grey Currawong 119 APPENDICES A. Banding Scheme Age Codes 121 B. Statistical Notes 123 C. Moult 127 D. Site Locations 131 REFERENCES 133 ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES 135 ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF ENGLISH NAMES 137 PREFACE We have received help from many people in preparing Bander's Aid. Their advice has been welcomed and largely incorporated into the text. We must, however, take full responsibility for all the information given here. We realise that much remains to be learned about ageing and sexing Australian bush birds and their life cycles. We will be extremely pleased to receive any comment on this edition of Bander's Aid and to receive new information for inclusion in future editions. Please send any information to the authors, c/o Bander's Aid, Lot 17, Ninks Road, st Andrews, Victoria 3761. Ken Rogers Annie Rogers Danny Rogers Brett Lane Bruce Male st Andrews October, 1986

Page 1 Page 2 FOREWORD Bander's Aid is primarily a guide to methods that can be used to age and sex many of the bush birds that occur in Victoria as well as a few in Tasmania and western Australia. Other information gained from the study of birds in the hand, which although not directly related to ageing and sexing, is also presented. Bander's Aid will be of interest and value not only to bird banders throughout Australia but also to others who have an interest in the life cycles of Australian birds. The genesis of this book was the arrival in Australia in 1981 of Anthony Roberts on a twelve month study of microsurgery. He was . (and is) passionately interested in birds and bird banding, having held a British licence for many years. He was amazed at the shortage of published information available on ageing and sexing Australian bird species and soon started applying the experience and techniques used in the palearctic to Victorian birds. An·thony rapidly infected a number of Melbourne based ornithologists with his enthusiasm for ageing and sexing; included in this group were Ken, Annie, and Danny Rogers. The Rogers family had arrived in Australia shortly before Anthony. They had gained their interest and skills in ornithology and banding mainly in Iran. Ken's training in research was to prove of great value to the project. Shortly before Anthony left Australia, the idea of Bander's Aid, an ageing and sexing guide based on the study of live birds in the hand was conceived. Anthony spent his remaining time persuading the Rogers family to take on the project. This they did and were supported by many other banders, notably Brett Lane and Bruce Male. This book is the result of the labours of these people and represents many hours of dedicated work, both in the field collecting data and at home analysing it. The book also contains contributions from Tasmanian and Western Australian ornithologists. I would like to mention the pioneering work done by other banders in establishing methods by which Australian birds may be aged and sexed. Notable amongst these was John Disney of the Australian Museum in Sydney. From 1963, John, together with other banders, produced a series of articles which were pUblished in the Australian Bird Bander, and more recently Corella, under the title "Bird in the Hand". In 1974 many of these were brought together as a book with this title under the editorship of Bill Lane and pUblished by the Bird Banders Association of Australia (now the Australian Bird Study Association). The involvement I have had over the years with bird banders throughout Australia has shown me that there is a growing store of knowledge of the methods that can be used to age and sex Australian birds. Much of this knowledge is gathered under the aegis of the Australian Bird Banding Scheme. I hope that before much longer we shall see more comprehensive editions of this book with contributions from ornithologists from other parts of Australia. Let us not forget, however, the complexity of producing such editions. We are studying the birds of a continent and the methods used to age and sex a species in one part of the country may not be suitable in another. For example, within species that are widespread throughout Australia, individuals in the north are usually smaller than those in the south (Bergmann's rule). Plumage characters can also change, even over relatively short distances. On a European scale it is equivalent to documenting methods to age and sex birds in places as far apart as Oslo, Athens, Dublin, and Moscow. Our only advantages in Australia are that we are one country and speak the same language. Bander's Aid is an example of the important work that can be done by amateur ornithologists. It is also another major milestone in Australian ornithology. I am sure that it will be recognised as such for many years to come.

David Purchase Canberra

Page 3 Page 4 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Background and Scope Knowiedge of the age and sex of the birds handled is essential to any study involving banded birds. Bander's Aid provides the bander with some of the information needed to age and sex birds. It is the first publication of this kind based on the study of live birds in the hand. The concept of Bander's Aid was first suggested in a series of meetings between Anthony Roberts, Richard Loyn, Allan Burbidge, Jeff Davies, and the authors in 1981 in which the coverage of such a guide was discussed. Bander's Aid is largely the record of the project that we set up following those meetings. We are conscious that the record is incomplete, both in species coverage and in detail. Dur hope is that, with this as the starting point, banders in Australia will work together to fill the many gaps in our knowledge and that subsequent editions of Bander's Aid will approach comprehensive coverage. Achieving this is well beyond the resources of a single project. One hundred and twelve species are described in Bander's Aid, many only partially. Ninety four of the descriptions are based on our work in Victoria. Many species vary in plumage characters and size throughout their range in Australia. A comment is made in the text on species which we know to vary geographically. There may well be variation in other species of which we are unaware. The user of Bander's Aid outside Victoria should be conscious that this variation might occur. Additional species descriptions were provided by: - David Henderson and Bob Green who have described nine Tasmanian endemics; - Anthony Roberts who has described six species introduced from Europe; and - Peter Congreve who has described three honey eaters which occur in Western Australia. Figures and illustrations were prepared by Perry de Rebeira. The cover sketch is by Danny Rogers. Structure of Bander's Aid The main part of Bander's Aid is the species descriptions of Chapter 5. The order in which species are described follows Emu Supplement 77 (RAOU 1978). Species caught as immatures and not as adults are described at length to assist the identification of characters which change with age. Descriptions of species which we know well tend to be shorter. Chapter 2 describes the content and layout of the species descriptions. Chapter 3 describes how the data on which the descriptions are based were collected. Chapter 4 presents, very briefly, some of the dangers of banding - both to the bird and to the bander. Bander's Aid is supported by four appendices. Appendix A presents our interpretation of the Banding Scheme's age codes and comments on a few points with which the banders may have difficulty. Appendix B discusses the statistical principles applicable to the analysis of bird measurement data. Appendix C describes briefly some of the concepts associated with the study of moult. Appendix 0 identifies the locations in Victoria where birds were caught. The appendices are followed by a list of references which we have found useful both in the field and in compiling Bander's Aid. The introductory chapters and the appendices are provided for two purposes. First, they support the species descriptions and a knowledge of their content is essential if the descriptions are not to be misinterpreted. Secondly, they may help other banders to design and operate their banding projects . •

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The future The species descriptions in Bander's Aid cannot be considered definitive. There are many gaps in our information, many unanswered questions, and many species not covered. This leaves a considerable challenge for Australian banders. Our present intention is to produce a supplement to Bander's Aid when there is sufficient new information to hand, possibly in eighteen months to two years time, and a completely revised edition in about five years time. We would be delighted to hear from banders who can add to and improve Bander's Aid, either by contributing descriptions of species not covered, by adding to the descriptions we have presented, or by pointing out any errors (hopefully not many) in this edition. Acknowledgements Louise Currie has been a fUlly active member of our banding team for the last eighteen months. In that time she has not only learned to band but-has also been of inestimable value in field checking and editing drafts of Bander's Aid. Some 65 people have assisted us in the field at various times either as active helpers, critical observers, or as general assistants. Maryam Rogers, Berrice Dale, Jeff Davies, and Justin Osborne have made major contributions. We are grateful to them all for their company, their interest and their help. We are extremely grateful for the support and encouragement of the Australian Bird Banding Scheme, initially from Oavld Purchase and more recently from Kim Lowe and Bill Phillips when responsibility for the Scheme was transferred from the CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Rangelands Research to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. Some people deserve special thanks. Anthony Roberts was in Australia for one year. He spent six months regretting the absence of an ageing and sexing guide and six months persuading us to write one. Pauline Reilly showed us the value of soft part analysis and would surely have produced a better volume than this had she not lost all her records in the Ash Wednesday fires of 19B3. Dur most exciting banding site has been at Mt Piper, near Broadford. We are most grateful to John Griffiths and Janice Crowl for allowing us the freedom of their property. In many ways our most productive site, and certainly the most comfortable, has been the Coranderrk Bushland at Healesville. The company and support of the Sanctuary staff, Gary Wilson and his wife Robyn in particular, are warmly acknowledged. We would like to thank the Royal Zoological Board of Victoria for allowing us to band there. We have examined the collections of the National Museum of Victoria to check out and test several ideas suggested by banding. In some cases this has saved considerable field work. We thank Belinda Gillies for her assistance. Our thanks go to the Bendigo College of Advanced Education for allowing us to use their computing facilities for some of the more complex statistical analyses. A number of people read and made detailed and constructive comments on early drafts. We are particularly grateful for this assistance from David Peters, Pauline Reilly, Richard Loyn, Mike Hines, Hugh Ford, Anthony Roberts, David Purchase, and Stephen Marchant. Comments on particular species were received from Dick and Molly Brown, David McFarland, David Paton, Doug Robinson, Priscilla Park, Stephen Ambrose, John Liddy, Berrice Dale, Ian Rowley, Jeff Hardy, and Richard Noske. •

Page 6 CHAPTER 2 WHAT'S IN THE SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS The same basic format is used for all species descriptions. It has nine parts. These are described below. PART I 1. English Name 2. Scientific Name PART 2 3. Band Size. This is the band size and metal currently recommended by the Banding Scheme. We would urge users of Bander's Aid to make the necessary corrections whenever the Scheme issues amendments to the list of approved band sizes. 4. Wing Point (WP). This is the number of the longest primary or primaries, measured counting outwards from the innermost primary (primary number 1). Wing point is always given for the closed wing in its natural position next to the body. The primary appearing longest changes as the wing is opened. Wing point is given to prevent banders from using wing lengths measured when the bird was moulting its longest primary. The wing point can vary between birds of the same species; in some cases we have recorded insufficient numbers to cover the range that might occur in practice. The wing points given should be taken as a guide only. Wing point is recorded as follows.

WP = a=b(=c) Usually, one or both of primaries a and b are the longest. Sometimes, primary c is the longest. It may be longer than or as long as either primary b or primaries a and b. 5. Species Number. Given to help banders complete their schedules. PART J 6. General. A comment may be made on points of interest, concern, or uncertainty. PART 4 7. Plumage and Soft Part Descriptions. These are given for identifiable ages and sexes in order of increasing age. Attributable Banding Scheme age codes are appended in brackets to each age described. Appendix A presents the age code system and comments on some points concerning its use. In many cases the assigned age code wili depend on the time of year at which the bird is caught. At other times the bander will have to use judgement. We usually give ages in spring and autumn at which times distinctions are most clear (at least in Victoria). More precise ageing than we have given is undoubtedly possible, and is certainly suspected, for many species. We have only given age codes to the extent that our data support them. The same age codes do not necessarily apply at the same time in different parts of Australia. Plumage characters may also vary geographically. These are commented on when we are aware of them. PART 5 8. Moult. What is known of the moult strategy of the bird is recorded. Generally, we record the moult of the population, not of the individual birds, a necessarily shorter period. Appendix C gives a brief summary of the concepts relevant to the study of moult. Ginn and Melville, 1983 give more information. 9. Breeding. The period when the bird is in breeding condition (ie with enlarged cloaca and/or brood patch) is recorded. Information on whether one or both sexes develop brood patches is given. Several species were recorded either breeding or in breeding condition following the breaking of the drought in Victoria in early April 1983; this is noted.

Page 7 PART 6 10. Ageing. The basis for the assigned age codes is given. Cases where further work would remove some of the uncertainties are noted. 11. Sexing. A comment is made on sexing the species. In the descriptions, the phrase "sexes similar" is used to indicate that the species cannot be sexed on plumage or soft part characters. A note is made on whether or not the species is sexually dimorphic in size. The phrase "size dimorphic" in this section refers only to size dimorphism due to sex. PART 7 12. Measurements. All our measurements were taken by several people. Measurer variation is therefore built into our results. More precise data can be obtained if all measurements are taken by a single measurer or by a group of measurers that has calibrated measurements between members. Similarly, any geographical size variation in the species is also built into our results, at least to the extent that there is any in Victoria. Banders should be aware of these sources of variation and use our results as a guide rather than as a gospel. Measurements are recorded in one of four ways. (i) Actual measurements where samples are very small. (ii) Range of measurements for small samples of species which are not sex size dimorphic or for sex size dimorphic species for which there are insufficient data to estimate statistical parameters. (iii) Mean and standard deviation for ~ood samples of non-size dimorphic birds and by sex for birds whlch can be sexed on plumage. (iv) Estimated mean and standard deviation for each sex of sex size dimorphic species in which the sexes are similar in plumage. Determination of which sex is larger is made either from cloacal examination or from examination of sexed museum specimens. This information is only given for species for which there are sufficient data to develop a sexing criterion. In all cases, the number of birds associated with the measurement is given. Estimated numbers of males and females are given for physically similar sex size dimorphic species. Appendix B, written primarily for the non-statistician, discusses the principles applicable to the presentation of resul.s in this way. The following measurements are usually given: - wing length (maximum chord) - total head length - tail length - weight In a few cases, culmen length is given. The next chapter of Bander's Aid describes how to take these measurements. Our analysis of wei~ht has not been as full as that of other measurements. A blrd's weight can vary with the time of day, the time of year, moult strategy, sex, and breeding activity. Very large samples are needed for comprehensive weight analysis. We have presented weight ranges for readily identifiable sex and age groups and, in some cases, have drawn attention to weight changes in individual birds. Much can be learned of a species biology from weight analysis and we would encourage banders to record weight for every bird handled. We do not measure wing span because of the possibility of damaging the bird's wings and flight muscles.

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I PART 8 13. Sexin9 Criterion. This is given for sex size dimorphic birds in whlch the sexes are similar and for which there are sufficient data to develop a criterion. The following information is given: _ the upper limit of size for a bird from the smaller sex; _ the lower limit of size for a bird from the larger sex. The limits are calculated in two steps. First, the theoretical limit at which a bird can be sexed correctly with 95% confidence is calculated. Secondly, upper limits are scaled down and lower limits scaled up to the nearest unit of measurer accuracy, ie 1 mm for wing length, 1/10 th mm for total head length. The quality of each criterion is assessed by three theoretical percentage probabilities: _ the expected percentage of birds correctly sexed _ the expected percentage of birds un sexed _ the expected percentage of birds incorrectly sexed. Appendix B discusses the principles of the method used to develop the sexing criteria. PART 9 14. Sites. The sites at which birds were caught are listed. After each site name, two numbers are given, separated by a comma; first, the number of new birds caught and, secondly, the number of re-traps. Totals of new birds and re-traps are also given. Appendix 0 shows the locations of Victorian sites.

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Page 10 CHAPTER 3 A NOTE ON TECHNIQUES INTROOUCTION The aim of this chapter is to give some practical help to the bander by describing the observations we take and how we take them. Thare are many techniques available to banders which we have not used and with which we are unfamiliar. These are not described. Nor do we describe the many techniques which can be used for trapping and holding birds (see Davis, 1981). We note that there is no point in taking accurate observations and measurements if they are not properly recorded. The most important member of a banding team is, in our opinion, the scribe. The scribe is better situated than the bander to check that all the information required from a species is taken and written down before the bird is released. The three sections of this chapter discuss: - general ageing characters; - useful literature; - field data. GENERAL AGEING CHARACTERS There are several characters which help the bander determine that a bird is not a full adult. As a general rUle, we comment only on species specific characters ,in the descriptions. Ageing characters are described below to help banders identify and describe young birds not covered, or not well covered, in Bander's Aid. They are more completely described by Svensson, 1975. Usually a bird should not be aged as an immature on the basis of only one or two characters. (i) Juvenile contour feathers are usually weaker and looser than adult ones. Look for these downy feathers in rump and under tail coverts where they are often retained longest. (ii) The tips of the feathers of a bird's first tail are often noticeably more pointed than those of adults. This is a structural character due to a smaller number of barbules. (iii) When a bird grows all its tail feathers simultaneously, the growth bars in the tail will line up across the whole width of the tail and will follow its shape. This is always the case for a bird's first tail. A few species moult all their tail feathers almost simultaneously as adults and there is always the possibility of this in other species when the original tail has been lost accidentally. This character is difficult to see and may not be visible in some birds. Occasionally, there is a brief but severe reduction in food availability while the tail is growing. This causes a weakness or fault bar in the tail feathers which is very noticeable. These fault bars line up across the tail in young birds (Roberts 1982). (iv) Wing coverts are often the last of the juvenile feathers to be moulted. A bird with worn and brown or buff tips to coverts will usually be an immature; but adults of some species always have similar tips to their coverts, so be careful. (v) Immatures often, grow their underwing feathers last and can be identified by pink bare skin over the wing bones and muscles. (vi) The gape (or oral) flange of most juveniles is usually obvious and puffy. As the bird ages, the puffiness decreases and the gape may change colour. Adults of some species always show conspicuous gapes and others may develop them in eclipse (post breeding) condition so some caution is needed. This frequently occurs in honeyeaters. (vii) The colours of the bills of young birds often differ from those of adults; usually they are paler. Again confusion with adults in eclipse is possible. (viii) The palate and the soft flesh of the throat may both differ in colour between young birds and adults.

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(ix) Eye (iris) colour may differ between immatures and adults. Usually the eye is a duller colour in younger birds. (x) Feet and legs of immatures are usually softer than those of adults and slightly swollen. They may also be of a different colour, usually paler. The soles of the feet may also change colour with age. (xi) The age of a bird may be indicated at some times of the year either by excessive wear of flight and/or tail feathers or by the freshness of the feathers. (xii) In some birds, immatures moult only some of their secondary coverts in their first year. This shows as a change in colour and wear across the wing, best seen with the wing in its natural closed position. (xiii) A bare area of flaky skin on the abdomen may indicate a young bird. This should not be mistaken for a brood patch. USEFUL LITERATURE There is much published information which will help the bander. We have found that the "A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia" (Pizzey and Doyle 1980), "A Field Guide to Australian Birds" (Slater 1970,1974), and the "Complete Book of Australian Birds" (Reader's Digest Sevices 1979) give the most useful descriptions of birds. "Bird in the Hand" (Disney et al. 1974) gives good descriptions of ageing and sexing characters for a number of species but is somewhat limited in its coverage. The most useful books on banding technique are undoubtedly the "Ringers Manual" (BTD 1984) and the "Identification Guide to European Passerines" (Svensson 1975). "Trapping Methods for Bird Ringers" (Davis 19B1) gives excellent descriptions of the design, construction, and use of safe trapping methods. We only quote sources when the relevant information is not known to us from our study of the bird in the hand, knowledge of it from our own field observations, our study of museum specimens, or if all the literature we have consulted provides a consensus view. Nevertheless, the descriptions usually make clear which information was obtained from live birds and which from other sources. FIELD DATA This section takes the reader through the items we record in the field. We do not always record all Items for all birds. The data are later transcribed to species sheets, keeping new birds and re-traps separate. This is an excellent I if time consuming, discipline for it forces us to examine our data soon after it has been collected. This helps us identify the data requirements for each species; these can change as we learn more about the birds. It may seem to some a difficult task to record all the information required to determine ageing and sexing characters but it is surprising how easy it becomes with practice. There is much to be said for taking as much. necessary information as possible from a bird once it has been subjected to the trauma of being captured and handled. At the same time, birds should not be subjected to unnecassary stress. •, As a general rule, and based on our own experience, we would argue that it is better to get good information from a small number of birds than to get poor information from a large number. It is unimaginably frustrating to note an unusual character on are-trap and then to find that the corresponding information was not recorded the first time the bird was caught. The data items we record are described below. Basic Data Species name, species number, banding site, date, and bander's name are recorded.

Page 12 Band Number Also a vital piece of information. The band number is read to the scribe before the band is placed on the bird as extra insurance against fitting the wrong size. It also helps to ensure that two or more bands bearing the same serial number are not used. (The same numbers are occasionally repeated when the bands are manufactured.) Age Code The banding scheme age code applying to the bird is recorded. In practice, only the age code the bander thinks applies can be recorded. The bander can often be wrong, particularly when dealing with unfamiliar or undescribed species. If the bander records elsewhere on the sheet why he chose that age code, he can review his ageing in the light of knowledge acquired later. Sex Obviously desirable. We only record sex here when it is determined unequivocally by plumage. There has to be an element of doubt in the sexing of a bird on cloacal shape or measurements and we record such data elsewhere. ling Length This is the wing length measurement known as the maximum chord, ie the straightened flattened wing. Figure 1 shows how the measurement is taken. A butted ruler is used. The carpal joint is set against the butt and held in place gently with the thumb. With fingers and thumb of the other hand, the primary feathers are smoothed, straightened and flattened to give the maximum measurement possible. In practice the wing cannot be completely staightened or flattened, particularly for the larger species. Feather material is dead and the flattening and straightening does not harm the bird in any way. The measurement is taken with the wing held in as natural a position as possible, close to the body of the bird. Oifferent banders take the measurement using slight variations to the method described. The important point is for an individual to take consistent measurements; this enables the analyst to correct for consistent differences between different measurers. Total Head Length Total head length is called by some "head and bill" or "overall head". This measurement is illustrated in Figure 2. Very accurate (and reproducible) measurements, to wlthin 0.1 mm can be taken. Calipers are best modified by fixing a butt to one end against which the back of the bird's skull is placed. Sharp tips and edges should be filed down without damaging the measuring faces. The head is rocked gently up and down to ensure that the maximum measurement is obtained. Care is needed to ensure that the tip of the bill, which is flexible, is not pressed and a too short measurement obtained. The bird's legs can be held between the ring and little fingers; this keeps claws out of the way and prevents premature release when changing the position of the hand on the bird's head. CUlmen CUlmen, or bill length, is measured as the shortest distance between the tip of the bill and the union of the bill and skull in most bush birds. For raptors and parrots it is measured to the tip (ie the closest part) of the cere. . Tail Length The tail is measured by inserting a thin unbutted ruler between the under tail coverts and the tail and moving it forwards until it butts gently against the body of the bird. The measurement is illustrated in Figure 1. Do not attempt to take this measurement from above the tail as this may damage the preen gland.

Page 13 ...------:------1 , !

Weight We have a range of spring balances and a set of plastic weighing cones accurately pre-weighed to a whole number of grammes. Plastic weighing cones have several advatages over linen bags. They enable the bird's weight to be recorded directly to the data sheet; they are more easily cleaned; their weight is unaffected by changes in atmospheric humidity and the accumulation of bird droppings and feathers; and they hold the bird securely so that it is unable to move, thereby making it easier to get an accurate weight reading on the balance. Time We record time as the start of the hour in which the bird was weighed on the 24 hour clock. So, for a bird caught at three fifty in the afternoon and weighed at five past four, the time is recorded as 16, not 15. Time would be recorded as 15 for a bird caught at the same time and weighed at one minute to four. If a bird is weighed in the morning after having been kept overnight, this is noted. Primary Moult The moult of individual primary feathers (referred to as "primary moult" throughout Bander's Aid) is recorded. Illustrations of primary moult and the scale used to score individual feathers are given in Figure 2. Further information on moult is given in Appendix C. Secondaries, Greater Coverts, Other Moult The presence or absence of moult in other feather tracts is recorded. Our observations show that moult in Australian birds differs from that of holarctic birds in many ways. The moult of tail, secondary and tertial feathers can be recorded in the same way as primary moult. Some birds are very prone to feather loss when handled. This has been termed fright moult or shock moult; it is discussed by Payne 1972. Treecreepers, pigeons and doves, and whipbirds seem particularly susceptible. These birds require very careful handling. Cloacal Protuberance A bird's cloaca enlarges when it is in breeding condition and severai species can be sexed on its shape. In males, the cloaca points upwards or forwards (rather than backwards) and will usually in consequence show a crease between its front and the abdomen. Some species may also show a bulge behind the cloaca (that of the Superb Fairy-wren has to be seen to be believed). The female cloaca usually points backwards and shows no crease. The cloaca is examined by blowing the feathers apart to expose it; the feathers should never be wetted and moved apart with the fingers. This may be physically dangerous to the bird and may transmit infections between the bander and the bird - in both directions. This may all sound very difficult but we have found that practice is the best teacher. Examination of the cloacas of birds of known sex is a good way ~f learning. Brood Patch A brood patch is a vascularised area of bare skin which is used in incubation. It allows the warm blood of the sitting bird to come into close contact with the egg. Birds are examined for the presence or absence of a brood patch at the same time and in the same way as the cloaca. We score brood patches on a three point scale according to size. This may be qualified with "+" or 1'_11 signs to indicate if we think the brood patch is developing or receding. A developing brood patch will have some feathers remaining but the skin exposed will be red and slightly thicker than usual. A fully developed brood patch is completely naked (or very nearly so) and the skin is thickened and pink to red.

Page 14 Individual blood vessels may be conspicuous. After incubation, the area slowly returns to normal. As the swelling recedes, it looks like a cross between scrambled egg and a Turner sunset. After this stage, it is reduced in size by the growth of new feathers. The very obvious shape of an egg can sometimes be seen when examining for brood patch. Cases of birds laying eggs in bird bags have been recorded. Clearly, birds should not be kept too long if this is a possibility. Eye Colour The colour of the iris is recorded. Often as a bird's eye colour changes, both new and old colours are present in concentric rings. Recording colour consistently can be difficult as the appearance depends to some extent on the quality of the light in which the eye is observed. Primary lear The wear of the primaries is recorded by a simple letter scale eg 5 for slight, VW for very worn etc. Tail Feather, lear and Shape Tail feather wear is recorded using the same letter scale as for primary wear. The shape of the tip of the feather (R for rounded, P for pointed) is recorded. Underwing Feathering The amount of feathering on the, underwing is recorded (W for well feathered,S for sparsely feathered). The underwing is viewed by blowing under the coverts to expose the skin. Palate Colour Some banders can get confused between the palate proper (ie the underside of the upper mandible) and the colour of the soft flesh at the rear (ie the throat). The colour of both can change with age. If both are recorded the possibility of confusion is diminished. Gape Flange The gape (or oral) flange is the soft skin joining the bases of the two mandibles. We record two items, the size of the gape and its colour. Size is recorded on a three point scale. Conspicuous puffy juvenile gapes are recorded as 3. The normal inconspicuous gape of an adult bird is recorded as 1. A score of 2 is used for intermediate gapes. ling Point This is the number of the longest primary or primaries. It is observed on the closed win~ held in its natural position against the body of the bird. Prlmaries are numbered from 1 to 10 starting from the innermost as illustrated in Figure 1. ling Formula Some palearctic species can only be separated in the hand on wing formula (ie the length of each primary relative to the longest measured on the closed wing). Fortunately, this does not seem to apply to species we have caught in Victoria and we have stopped taking it. This may not be the case elsewhere in Australia. Notes Anything else of interest is recorded. We have found it good practice always to record here why we have assigned a particular age to a bird, using standard codes eg FAP for full adult plumage, TJP for trace of juvenile plumage. Plumage descriptions are recorded under this heading. You can only be certain of identifying changes in appearance (eg eclipse plumage) if these are fully recorded. We always use the same nomenclature for the parts of a bird. These are shown in Figure 1. For many species, details of feather markings are important sexing or ageing characters. Figure 3 shows the terminology we use for describing feathers.

Page 15 Example A copy of our transcribed field data is presented in Figures 4a and 4b. Explanation of the cryptic codes on the sheets has been added. Dubious measurements (for whatever reason) are bracketed. Confirmed measurements (none on this sheet) are underlined. Uncertain observations are recorded with a question mark.

Page 16 TOPOGRAPHY OF A BIRD

Crown Lares Mantle Forehead Eyebrow j Scapulars Ear coverts Cere \ Back Upper '" mandible~-, Gape Rump . / Upper tail / coverts Lower/I mandible / Tail Abdomen --- Chin

1 hroat

Under tai I coverts Flanks

UNDERWING UPPERWING

Lesse r coverts

. Median coverts "'<.-/...... Alula ''-,'·''

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Cloaca

Base of cent ra I tai I feathers

Rule placed between tall and undertail cove rts Read from above

Feathers straightened and flattened

Figure 1. Page 17 J -r

TOTAL HEAD LENGTH

Pads glued to caliper jaw ------';-1

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Sharp claws can be held between the ring and little finger. (Oooooh!!! )

PRIMARY MOULT t Pin or missing 2' Between pin & ~3 grown 3, Between 1/:3 & ~3 grown 4, Between 2/:3 & fu Ily grown with blood sti II in the shaft 5' New & fully grown ­ no blood in shaft 0, Fully grown, faded & worn

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Figure 2, Page 18 FEATHER DESCRIPTION TERMINOLOGY

Emarginated primary

Secondary

Leading or _II _Inner or outer edge ) I trailing edge

Emargination- Ii )

Outer web- -Inner web

--- Shaft

Body feather Down

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Page 22 CHAPTER 4 CAUTIONS 1. SPECIES VULNERABLE TO STRESS FROM CATCHING AND HANDLING Brown Thornbill - western Gerygone - Eastern Spinebill (in cold weather) - European Greenfinch If a bird looks distressed (feathers all pUffed out) or won't fly, try warming it in the hands or in a bag close to some form of heat (fire or car heater) before releasing it. Recovery is usually ra p I d , 2. DANGERS TO BIROS IN MIST NETS - Kookaburras - Currawongs - Magpies - Butcherbirds - Raptors - Hot sun - Cold - Rain - Wind - Ants - Snakes - Lizards - Cats and dogs . _ Interfering people, however well meaning, who do not understand what is going on - Mist netters who: NEVER cut birds out of nets; don't carry a small seam ripper or pair of scissors to cut birds out of nets; do cut birds out of nets and who don't remove ALL pieces of net from a bird before releasing it; don't realise that some birds can get "tongued" in nets and require special care when extracting; don't close their nets early enough and end up extractin~ birds in the dark (ESPECIALLY when birds are breedIng and cannot be kept overnight without risking the brood); don't have enough bird bags and resort to placing two or more birds in a bag; and leave birds in bags too long. If conditions are inclement, banders may have to modify their normal procedures, eg more frequent net checking, closing nets, not setting nets too close to the ground etc. In good conditions, we check nets every half hour; in bad conditions (assuming that continued banding is sensible), we may check nets as frequently as every five or ten minutes. We try never to hold a bird for processing for more than an hour at most; in practice, we rarely hold birds for more than half an hour. If birds may be rearing a brood! we process them quicker than this, especially at dusk or if it IS cold. If predators are about, either a very close watch should be kept on the nets or they should be closed. If birds have to be kept overnight, they should be kept in individual bird bags in a safe place with the bags lying on a flat surface (not hanging from a peg) and held down by a weight to stop movement. Do not leave them in a place where they may be predated upon or where something or someone may accidently crush them.

Page 23 J. DANGERS TO BANDERS _ Avian diseases _ Lorikeets (and how) _ Rosellas (especially Crimson) - Cockatoos Shrike-tits _ Butcherbirds - Currawongs Raptors _ Wattlebirds - Miners Avian diseases are best avoided by proper handling of the bird and personal hygiene. Dangerous species are part of the game. Under no circumstances should the bander seek revenge on the bird (it has happened). If you can't handle them, let them go.

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Page 24 I• CHAPTER 5 SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS

Page 25 PAINTED BUTTON-QUAIL, Turnix varia

Size: 6 Female, 5 Male, AM,AV. WP ~ 10~9(~8). No. 014. Nestlings and immatures should not be banded unless they can first be sexed as the sexes require different band sizes. Adult (1+). Bill blue horn. Eye, red. Legs, deep yellow. Fine black and white spotting on forehead and sides of face. Pale chestnut sides to neck. Breast, creamy grey with large creamish spots at sides. FEMALE: Some feathers at sides of neck, chestnut across width. MALE: Neck feathers, buff chestnut with black and white at sides. NB. No feathers chestnut across width. Moult. Adult primary moult starts late December/early January. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Adults on plumage and size. r Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female I .~ No. of Range No. of Range , Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 3 99 105 3 109 110 THL (mm) 3 35.5 37.8 3 38 .8 41 .3 Weight (gm) 3 53 86 3 72 122 Sites. Mt Piper 3,0 Jamieson 1 , 0 Bendigo Whipstick 2 , 0 TOTALS 6,0

TASMANIAN NATIVE HEN, Gallinula mortierii

Size 12,55. WP ~ 7~8. No. D54 An endemic Tasmanian flightless rail confined to grassland near lakes, rivers, and streams where it grazes on short green vegetation. Pulli are too small to be banded. Pullus (P). Generally brownish black with faint white spot on flanks. Juv (J). A pale cream terminal band on grey abdomen feathers gives a mottled appearance. Upper chin feathers, dirty cream. Otherwise, similar to adult. Imm (1). Upper chin feathers, grey. Throat, grey. Otherwise as juvenile. Adult (1+). Upper chin feathers, grey. Upperparts, olive bronze. Underparts, grey darkening to very dark grey brown at abdomen. Speckling on abdomen absent. Large white flash on flanks. Feet and legs, grey. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. September to Oecember. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+ . Sexing. Sexes similar. Not known if size dimorphic, but males may be larger.

Page 26 Measurements. Taken from museum specimens. Adult Male Adult Female No. 0 f Range No. of Range Birds Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 7 196 204 14 187 203 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green.

PEACEFUL DOVE, Ge~pelia placida

Si~e 6(5), AY(AM). WP = 8(=9,=7). No. D3D. Peaceful by name, peaceful by nature - until they suddenly 'explode' and leave you empty handed. Ill. (1). Bill, dark grey with black tip. Gape, grey. Grey skin above cere. Lores, feathered grey. Eye! grey with paler grey inner ring. Eye ring, small, dull turquolse. Forehead, grey with brown tipped white juvenile feathers. Crown feathers, tipped white. Downy rump feathers have white tips. White tips to inner median, and secondary coverts. Chestnut tips to primary and outer median coverts. Chestnut outer edges to some inner primaries. Buff wash to flanks and cloacal area. Dark chestnut underwing coverts and axillaries. Adult (1+). Bill, blue grey. Palate, grey. Gape, grey. Eye, grey blue to sky blue with black outer ring. Eye ring, blue turquoise. Bare skin above bill and bare skin of lores, light turquoise to rich blue turquoise. Forehead/ grey with blue tinge. Rest of head, grey. Nape, off-white barred black. Back feathers, lesser, median, and upper tail coverts, grey brown with black or dark brown terminal band giving barred appearance (NB. Rump barring, either about 1 mm black terminal band or about 0.5 mm dark brown band). No barring on alula or primary coverts. Primaries, dark grey brown. Chin, grey. Throat and upper breast, white barred black. Lower breast, pinkish white. Abdomen and undertail coverts, white. Underwing coverts and axillaries, chestnut. Moult. Complete moult of. adults commences December (half completed in one bird in early March). Primary moult sometimes unconventional, starting in two places - primary 1 and primary 6 or 7. Tail moults from the outer tail feathers towards the centre. Immature crown moult observed December. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Unknown if size dimorphic. Sexing (or more precise ageing) may be possible on the extent and colour of the barring in the rump and the colour of the lores and the bare skin above the cere. The richness of the chestnut underwing also varies but this is difficult to record. Measurements. No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

All birds - Wing (mm) 14 103 113 - THL (mm) 14 33.4 36. 1 - Tail (mm) 14 93 113 - Weight (gm) 15 47.5 56.6 Site. Killawarra 14, 2

Page 27 BRUSH BRONZEWING, Phaps elegans

Size B, AM. WP = B=9. No. 035. A robust bird, hard to catch in a mist net (setting the nets with big pockets helps) and hard to hold when caught. Can lose many feathers when handled. Imm (1). Bill, black with brown cere. Gape, black. Palate, pink. Eye, brown. Forehead and erown feathers, brown tipped either buff or grey. Chestnut line from behind eye is indistinct and does not meet at nape. Under-eye stripe, white. White fringes to scapulars. White to brown fringes to secondary coverts which have only a few iridescent patches. Chin and throat, white with small chestnut patches at sides. Feet and legs, deep pink. Free-Flying (1+). Three birds caught with full adult plumage except for reduced amounts of chestnut on throat and nape. These are possibly second year birds. Adult Male (1+). Bill and gape, black. palate, black. Eye, dark brown. Thin brown stripe under eye. Chestnut line from behind eye, broad (12 mm at widest) meeting at nape. Forehead, rich brown. Crown, dark grey. Nape, broad chestnut at middle, slight grey at sides. Mantle, chestnut. Back, rump, upper tail coverts, scapulars, median and lesser coverts, dull brown with traces of iridescent green. Secondary coverts have conspicuous iridescent rainbow hued patches. Primaries and secondaries, dark brown with narrow chestnut fringe on outer web and broad chestnut fringe on inner web. Tail, brown at base shading to black. Chin and throat, brown. Underparts, pale blue/grey. Feet and legs, dark pink. Adult Female (1+). Very thin white stripe under eye. Forehead, yellow/buff. Crown, mid-grey. Chestnut line from behind eye meeting at nape; maximum width 5 mm. Nape, slight chestnut at middle, remainder grey. No chestnut on mantle. Chin, white. Small chestnut throat patch. Otherwise as adult male. Moult. Adults observed in conventional primary moult in April. Free-flying birds, caught in late March, were in unconventional, or had suspended, primary moult. One bird, caught at the same time and aged as an immature, was starting conventional primary moult. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage obtained, hence adults aged 1+. All birds descibed above were caught in the autumn, suggesting that ageing to third year may be possible. Sexing. Adults on plumage. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

/• All birds - Wing (mm) 13 157 173 - THL (mm) 13 4B.2 52.2 - Tail (mm) 11 100 115 - Weight (gm) 6 190 215 Sites. Big Billy Bore 7,0 Bendigo Whipstick B , 0 TOTALS 15,0

Page 2B CRESTED PIGEON, Ocyphaps lophotes

Size 8, AM. No. 043. Imm (1). Bill, dark grey with pale grey base. Gape, mid grey. Palate, mid Qrey. Eye, pale tan. Black crest appearing. Upperparts, grey wlth buff tint. Throat and upper breast, mid-grey. Adult salmon pink feathers appearing in throat and flanks. Incomplete iridescent green and purple wing patches. Broad white tips to primary and secondary coverts. Lesser coverts, tan brown with black sub-terminal band. Abdomen, downy pale grey. Legs, pink grey with black claws. Adult (1+). Bill, dark grey. Gape, mid grey. Eye, orange red. Full black crest. Upperparts, grey with faint brown wash. Conspicuous dark wing bars on brown wings. Fully developed iridescent green and purple wing patches. Throat and upper breast, mid grey with salmon pink patches on the sides of throat extending to flanks. Abdomen, pale grey. Legs, pink. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. September to January (nest observations). Ageing. Not known when adult plumage and soft parts acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) 2 161 177 - THL (mm) 2 45.6 47.9 - Tail (mm) 2 142 151 - Weight (gm) 2 209 223 Site. Shepparton 4 , 0

YELLOW-TAILED BLACK-COCKATOO, Calyptorhynchus funereus

Size 21, 55. WP = 7(=6). No. 267. All possible efforts should be made to get the band closed perfectly. These birds have such powerful bills that anything less than perfect closure could lead to the bird mangling either the band or its leg. This is an exciting and painful bird - it should be handled carefully (although it doesn't pay you the same courtesy). Leather gloves should be worn, mostly for confidence as they do not offer enough protection to prevent injury. A stick is also useful, to divert the bird's bill from fingers until it has been grabbed. By holding the neck in one hand, the bill is kept out of the way during processing. A bird-bag over the head (not tied for they like to breathe) makes the bird shut up. The bird's weight should be supported with the other hand, while somebody else does the processing. Unless a cockatoo-proof, well-ventilated, 1 metre by 1 metre bird-bag is available, these birds should be processed as soon as possible. Imm (1). Not caught. Adult (1+). Eye, dark brown. Plumage, dark brown to black; feathers have narrow yellow edges, broader on underparts. MALE: Bill, dark grey. Skin round eye, pink. Yellow cheek patch, small. Very little or no black speckling in yellow tail patch. FEMALE: Bill, horn coloured. Skin round eye, dark grey. Yellow cheek patch, larger than in male. Yellow tail patch, speckled black.

Page 29 Moult and Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. No information, so adults aged 1+. Sexing. Adults on plumage and bill colour. Measurements. Only one bird caught, an adult female. Wing (mm) 370 Culmen (mm) 50 Tail (mm) 295 Site. Coranderrk 1 ,0

LITTLE LORIKEET, Glossopsitta pusilla

Size, none recommended. WP ~ 10. No. 260. Size 23 bands have the right diameter but should be filed down to a height of 2.5 mm, due to the shnrt length of the tarsus and the bulbous joints. Some banders may be able to do this in the field by holding the band (55) in banding pliers and rasping away with patience and elbow grease on a file held on a flat surface; we have never succeeded and our birds were released unbanded. Little lorikeets are beautiful and vicious birds which deliver a very painful nip. While being processed, they can be controlled by maintaining a steady upward' pressure on the lower mandible with the middle finger. When extracting them from mist nets it is best to resign yourself to being bitten; otherwise you muck around for ages and get bitten anyway. They are so small that most gloves are too cumbersome for the fiddly job of extraction. Their heads fit exactly through the hole of a one and a quarter inch mesh mist net, so a lot of extraction work near the bill is needed. Imm (1). Bill, black with brown patches. Eye, brown. (NB. The three birds aged as immatures on these characters had adu It plumage. This may not apply to younger immatures.) Adult (1+). Bill, black. Eye, orange outer ring, brown middle ring with narrow yellow inner ring separating this from the pupil. Face, forehead and throat, red. Mantle brown. Upperparts, green. Underparts, yellowish green. Moult. Primary moult almost complete in adult in early February 1983, the drought year. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage attained,, hence adults aged 1 + • Sexing. No information. Measurements. Cowardice and a low pain threshold led to few measurements being taken. '/" No. of Range Birds ------Min Max -- - -- Adu It - Wing ( mm) 2 103 105 - Culmen ( mm) 1 10.9 - Tail ( mm) 2 64 65 - Weight ( g m) 3 38.9 46.0 • Imm - Weight ( g m) 3 32.3 36.0 Site. Knowsley 7,0

Page 30 GREEN ROSELLA, Platycercus caledonicus

Size, none recommended. WP = 8(=9). No. 285. Band size, probably 23 or 24, stainless steel. The endemic Tasmanian rosella, occurring throughout the islands. The bill can inflict a painful wound; gloves or a trainee are useful.

Juv (J). Crown, green with no yellowish wash. Feathers on back lack the paler terminal band of adults. otherwise, as adults. Imm (1). As for juvenile, except a yellowish wash may be present in the crown. Adult (1+). Crown! yellowish green, yellow in older males. Back feathers and wlng coverts, dark green (almost black) with yellowish or blueish green 2 mm terminal band. Breast and abdomen, yellowish green, brighter in males. Both sexes become brighter and more yellow with age. In birds of the same age, males are always brighter and more yellow than females. Moult. Not observed. Breedin~. October to December. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Some birds can possibly be sexed on brightness of plumaQe. Size dimorphic, males' larger - more apparent in the "masslveness" of the bill than in other characters. Measurellents. NB. From museum specimens. Male Female No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 19 176 193 16 162 183 Weight (gm) 15 120 158 13 IDD 140 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green.

CRIMSON ROSELLA, Platycercus elegans

Size 24, 55. WP = 8=9. No. 282. The wise bander lets others handle these birds. What's the use of a yellow streak if you can't depend on it? Juv (J). Bill, pale horn with pinkish tinge to lower part of upper mandible. Palate, white. Gape and cere, yellow. Eye, dark brown. Top of crown, red. Hind crown, nape, mantle and upper back, dark green. Lower rump and uppertail coverts, yellowish green. Central four tail feathers have olive inner webs. All other tail feathers pale blue with white tips. Feathers around carpal joint, green. Alula, greater coverts and primaries, dark blue. Secondaries, dark blue with pale green outer edges. Median, lesser, and secondary coverts, blue with green fringes. Tertials, grey brown with thick green leading edges. Chin, blue. Throat, dark red. Upper breast, green. Lower breast and abdomen, pale blue green. Flanks, green. Thighs and undertail coverts, red; feathers have yellow fringes. White underwing stripe on secondaries and primaries. (NB. The bird described was very small, had no fUlly grown feathers, and had probably fallen from a nest.)

Page 31 Imm (1 to 3-). In first winter, similar to juvenile but with dark red border to violet blue cheeks and throat. Olive green feathers are gradually replaced by bright red ones. Adult (3+). Bill, greyish horn. Eye, dark brown. Head, bright red apart from violet blue cheeks and throat. Feathers of nape, mantle, and upper back, broadly margined red. Lower back, rump, and uppertail coverts, bright red. Outer tail feathers, dark blue at base with pale blue broad sub-terminal band tipped white. Underparts, bright red. Underwing stripe, absent. Underside of tail, pale blue. MALE: Upperside of central tail feathers, very dark blue. FEMALE: Uppers ide of central tail feathers has greenish tinge. Moult. Partial primary moult observed in adult in late November. Primary moult observed in March in a second year bird. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Some green feathers are retained until at least after the second summer. These are presumed to be replaced the following spring/summer, hence assigned ages. Immatures can be aged to 1, 2, or 3- on a subjective assessment of the amount of green plumage. Sexing. Adults on colour of uppers ide of central tail feathers (Forshaw, 1981a). Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Ra ng e Birds ------Min Max ------All birds Wing (mm) 14 172 193 - Culmen (mm) 7 17 . 9 20.3 - Tail (mm) 11 185 228 - Weight ( g m) 11 120 149 Sites. Mt Pip e r 10,0 Coranderrk 2 , 0 Rotamah Island 2 , 0 st Andrews 1,0 Knowsley 1,0 TOTALS 16,0

EASTERN ROSELLA, Platycercus eximius

Size 24,55. WP = 8. No. 288. 1m.. r i or 2-). Bill, yellow becoming grey. Cere, yellow turning grey. Greenish grey scaly area around eye. Crown, appears dull red, sometimes with green juvenile feathers remaining. Rump feathers, green with narrow brown fringes. Underwing has white wing stripe on secondaries and inner primaries. Throat and cheek patch, tinged brown. Breast, yellOWish with red feathers spreading. Adult Male (2+). Bill, horn coloured. Cere, grey. Small grey scaly area around eye. Head, nape and breast, bright even red. Feathers of mantle, upper back and tertials, black broadly margined with yellowish green. Throat and cheek, white. Rump, green. No underwing stripe. Adult Female (2+). Soft parts as male. Red on crown and upper breast, paler and less extensive than in male. Feathers of mantle, upper back and tertials, margined dull green. Otherwise as male. Some books report an underwing stripe; we have not obsarved this. Moult. Adult primary moult observed January to March. Two immatures caught in partial primary moult (starting at primary 6) in December. Breeding. Not observed.

Page 32 Ageing. Immature plumage retained into second year, hence adults aged 2+. It is possible that full adult plumage is not acquired until the third year; more data are needed to confirm this. Sexing. Adults on plumage. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

All birds - Wing (mm) 21 141 164 - Culmen (mm) 11 1 3 • 6 17 .7 - Tail (mm) 17 147 171 - Weight (gm) 20 87 109 Sites. Knowsley 13,0 Coranderrk 2,0 Killawarra 9 , 1 TOTALS 24,1

REO-RUMPEO PARROT, Psephotus haematonotus

Size 23, 55. WP = 8=9. No. 295. Imm Male (1). Upper mandible, grey with pale orange tip. Lower mandible, pale orange. Eye, olive grey changing to brown. Eye ring, grey. Head, dull green with blue forehead and ear coverts. Nape, mantle and back, olive green. Rump, appears patchy red due to yellow fringes to feathers. Central white spot on primaries and secondaries show as underwing bar. Underparts, as adult male. Imm Female (1). Bill, horn or yellowish horn with dark grey base to upper mandible. Palate, white. Eye, olive grey changing to brown. Forehead and face, grey green. Crown to lower back, olive green. Rump and uppertail coverts, grass green. Lesser, median, and secondary coverts and tertials, olive green. Alula, primary coverts, and feathers round bend of wing, dark blue. Throat, light grey green. Breast, yellowish; feathers have thin brown tips. Abdomen, pale yellow. Underwing, grey with cream bar on all flight feathers except outer two primaries. Undertail coverts, powder blue. Adult Male (1+). Bill, dark grey. Eye, dark brown. Forehead, front of crown and lower cheeks, blueish green. Rest of head, green. Mantle and back, blueish green. Rump, red. Upper tail coverts, bright green. Bend of wing and primary coverts, violet blue. Outer median coverts, yellow. Primaries dull black with violet blue outer webs. Throat and breast, yellowish green. Abdomen, yellow. Under wing bar, absent. Undertail coverts, white. Adult Female (1+). Bill, mid grey. Eye light grey brown. Forehead, lares and cheeks, grey washed with olive. Crown and upperparts, olive ~rey. Rump and uppertail coverts, bright green. Inner medlan coverts and outer secondary coverts, olive green broadly edged pale blue. Bend of wing and primary coverts, dull violet blue. Primaries, dull black with violet blue outer webs. Throat and upper breast, olive grey. Lower breast and abdomen, off white. Undertail coverts, white washed dull blue. (NB. Presence or absence of underwing bar not recorded.) Moult. Adult primary and tail moult observed December, January and March. Adults have a simultaneous ascendant and descendant primary moult starting at primary 5 and/or 6. Primary moult of immatures, not observed. Immatures caught at same time as adults in primary moult were not themselves in primary moult. Breeding. Observed December.

Page 33 Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. If, as may be possible, immatures do not undergo their first primary moult until their second year, they should be identifiable by worn primaries and presence, at least in the male, of an underwing bar in the spring following fledging and will be aged 2-; adults at this time will be aged 2+. Sexing. All ages on plumage. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Range No. 0 f Range Birds Birds Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 9 127 137 12 118 131 Culmen (mm) 8 12 .0 15 . 7 6 12 . 1 13 . 1 Tail (mm) -8 146 159 10 136 156 Weight (gm) 9 60 69 10 62 71 Sites. Wail 3,0 Knowsley 13,0 Mt Piper 2,0 Killawarra 6,0 Shepparton 9,0 TOTALS 33,0

TURQUOISE PARROT, Neophema pulchella

Size 23,55. WP = 9=10. No. 302. A fairly painless parrot and quite beautiful. Re-traps needed to resolve the uncertainties. 111m (1). Generally similar to adult female. May have turquoise appearing in face and red or orange spots on median coverts. (NB. These are not emergent adult red coverts.) Underwing stripe, faint or absent. Adult Male (1+). Eye, muddy brown. Cere, dark grey. Bill: upper mandible, dark grey, possibly with brown tip; lower mandible, paler. Turquoise on forehead, cheeks, lores, and behind eye. Crown and rest of upperparts, bright grass green except for outer tail feathers which are bright yellow. All underparts, bright yellow, sometimes with orange tinge to breast and abdomen. Primaries, primary coverts, and outer secondaries, dark blue. Inner secondaries and lesser, secondary and outer median coverts, turquoise blue. Inner median coverts, red. Underwing coverts, blue. Lacks underwing stripe. Adult Female (1+). Soft parts as male, although bill possibly paler. Forehead and cheeks, powder blue, not extending far behind eye. Lores, pale yellow green or yellowish white. Upperparts, green. Blue on wing not as bright as in adult male. Lacks red in median coverts. Outer tail feathers, bright yellow. Throat and breast, pale green to yellow green. Abdomen, yellow, may have orange wash. Undertail coverts and undertail, yellow. Underwing stripe, white, across secondaries and all but outer two or three primaries. •/ Moult. Adult primary moult observed almost completed in March. No moult observed in immatures caught at the same time. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Forshaw, 1981a reports that males acquire adult plumage in four months. Given that we caught seven non-mOUlting immatures in the autumn, this may not be true for all birds. Sexing. Adults on plumage. Not known if size dimorphic. All seven immatures caught had some red or orange in median coverts; possibly all immatures have this character, not just males. The underwing stripe was faint or absent in all these birds and did not vary consistently with the amount of red/orange in the coverts. If immature females lack the red/orange spots, they may be indistinguishable from adult females.

Page 34 Measurements. No noticeable size difference between immatures and adults. No. of Range Birds Min Max

All birds - Wing (mm) 11 112 120 - Culmen (mm) 11 10. 1 11 .4 - Tail (mm) 12 96 115 - Weight (gm) 13 36.0 45.8 Site. Killawarra 13,0 NB. This description was prepared by Louise Currie.

BRUSH CUCKOO, Cuculus variolosus

Size 4, AY. WP = 8. No. 339. Only one bird caught. Immature distinguished from immature Fan-tailed Cuckoo (C. pyrrophanus) by the square tail and tail length (illmm in Brush, greater than 126 mm in immature Fan-tailed). Also, appearance of Brush more rufous buff (Richard Loyn, pers comm). Imm (1). Bill, black with brown base to lower mandible. Palate, orange yellow. Gape, yellow. Eye, olive brown with darker flecks in centre. General mottled appearance. Back, feathers dark brown with buff tips. Buff fringes to all wing coverts. Tail black with brawny buff tips. Slightly rufous below throat. (NB. Colour of eye ring in immatures not recorded but could be useful.) Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Bill, black. Eye-ring, grey. Legs, grey pink. Head and throat, grey. Upperparts, olive to rufous brown with slight greenish sheen. Tail feathers tipped white. Underparts, greyish fawn. Undertail coverts, buff. (NB. Description taken from museum specimens.) Moult. Not observed. Breeding. No information. Ageing. Period to acquisition of adult plumage unknown, hence adults aged 1+ in spring. Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence 2+ for adults at this time. Sexing. No information. Measurements. One immature only. Wing (mm) 129 THL (mm) 41.3 Tail (mm) 11 1 Weight (gm) 43.8 Site. Coranderrk 1,0

FAN-TAILED CUCKOO, Cuculus pyrrhophanus

Size 4, AY. WP = 8. No. 338. See Brush Cuckoo for differences. Imm (1). Bill, dull black with orange/yellow base to lower mandible. Gape, variable, cream to orange. Brown flecks in grey crown. Buff tips to greater coverts. Underparts irregularly barred buff, dark grey and white. Buff in throat and undertail coverts.

Page 35 "

Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ sprIng). Bill, black with olive brown base to lower mandible. Gape, buff to cream. Eye ring, yellow. Upperparts, slate grey. Breast mid rufous, duller in female. Abdomen, greyish with grey/rufous bars. Moult. One immature caught in late March was mOUlting primaries, secondaries, tail, wing coverts, and body feathers. Primaries were moulting in irregular sequence. Breeding. September to December. Four adult birds (three in spring, one in summer) showed incomplete brood patches. Ageing. Complete post juvenile moult means that autumn adults are aged 2+ and all spring birds are aged 1+. Sexing. Adults on breast colour. This is a variable character and difficult to jUdge if only one bird caught. Not readily sexable on cloaca. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. Adults Immatures No. of Range No. of Birds ------Birds Min Max ------Wing (mm) 5 143 151 2 THL (mm) 5 4 1 . 6 45.4 2 Tail ( mm) 3 144 151 1 Weight ( g m) 4 44.0 50.0 2 NB. ( 1 ) The 7'th primary of the largest immature 8'th primary was mOUlting. ( 2 ) An adult wei~hed at 6pm weighed 69.0 gm. measurement lS not included in the above Sites. Knowsley 1,0 Arthurs Creek 2,0 Toolangi 1 ,0 TOTALS 7,0

BLACK-EARED CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx osculans

Size 4, AV. WP = 8. No. 341. Imm (lor 2-). Eye, dark red brown. Brownish grey upperparts and flight feathers. Lesser and median coverts, grey with buff tips. Primary coverts, brown grey. Rump feathers, grey with several rufous bands. Underparts, brownish white. Adult (2+). Bill and gape, black. Palate, black. Eye, dark brown inner, pale brown outer. Crown, mid-grey feathers with dark grey shafts. Black ear coverts and eye ring. Mantle and back, grey with a tinge of rufous. Rump feathers, white with grey bands. Scapulars and tertials, brown tinged rufous with metallic appearance in sunlight. Lesser and median coverts, grey with paler grey fringes. Primary coverts, dark grey. Underwing, broad but faint rufous band from 8th primary to tertials. Underwing coverts, grey with rufous stripes. Primaries and secondaries, dark brown. Chin, white shading to pale rufous on neck and chest. Undertail coverts, white with mid-grey stripe. Tail feathers, dark grey, inner webs have thin horizontal white stripes - easier to see on outer feathers. Central pair of tail feathers have pale grey tips, remainder have conspicuous white tips. Moult. Adult moult not observed. One bird, aged as 2-, observed in unconventional primary moult in March. Breeding. Observed in August. One bird, sexed as female on cloaca, had a fUlly developed brood patch.

Page 36 Ageing. Immatures identifiable into start of second year, hence aged 1 or 2- and adults aged 2+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) 9 108 123 - THL (mm) 4 38.4 40.4 - Tail (mm) 3 87 91 - Weight (gm) 3 29 • 6 37 • 5 Sites. Bendigo Whipstick 7,0 Killawarra 2,0 Mt Piper 1,0 TOTALS 10,0

HORSFIELO'S BRONZE-CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx basalis

Size 3, AV. WP = 8. No. 342. Oistinguished from Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (C. lucidus) by incomplete bronze brown breast bars extending faintly to the throat and the chestnut bases to the outer tail feathers. Imm (lor 2-). As adult but much paler and duller. Brown fringes to all greater and some lesser and median coverts. Breast bars, very faint to absent. Adult (2+). Bill, glossy black. Palate, black. Gape, black. Eye, variable (see Sexing). Upperparts, bright metallic bronze. Underparts, cream white, barred brown. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. Observed in October and November. Females (sexed on cloaca) develop large brood patches; unknown if males do. Ageing. Immatures identifiable in spring following fledging, hence age 2- for these birds and age 2+ for adults. Sexing. Plumage of sexes similar. Two birds caught on the same day had different eye colours, pink brown and fawn grey; pale fawn also observed. This may be a sexing character (Perry de Rebeira, pers comm). Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max ------Adult - Wing (mm) 12 99 106 - THL (mm) 8 34.0 37.5 - Tail (mm) 5 64 71 - Weight (gm) 7 21.4 30. 1 Sites. Bendigo Whipstick 7 , 1 Mt Piper 2,0 Killawarra 1,0 Euriowie Bore (NSW) 2,0 TOTALS 12, 1

Page 37 ­; ,I

SHINING BRONZE-CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx lucidus plagosus

Size 3, AV. WP ~ 8. No. 344. Tail might be worth detailed examination. Illustration in Pizzey and Doyle (198D) differs from our observations on one bird. Imm (1). Eye, brownish grey with brown inner. Eye ring, yellow green. Bill, dull black. Gape, yellow. Palate, lemon. Lares, off-white. Crown, brown with bronze sheen. Back, rump, upper tail coverts, tertials and all wing coverts except primaries shining bronze green in sunlight and brownish green in shade. Primary coverts and rest of upper wing dark brown. Chin and throat feathers white with brown tips giving a mottled grey ~ppearance. Breast feathers off-white with brown tips giving a white grey brown appearance. Lower breast and abdomen off-white with incomplete (or no) bars starting from the flanks and not meeting. Undertail coverts, white with a bronze central patch. Underwing coverts, white barred bronze. Underside of primaries and' secondaries grey with white stripe. Tail; outer web of outermost feather, light brown with 6 white bands (actually large spots); inner web, dark brown with 5 white bands across the whole width; next inner feather brown tinged bronze with black sub-terminal band and white spot at tip; remaining tail feathers, similar but without the white spot. Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Eye, creamish grey to pale brown. Bill and gape, black. Eye ring, blue green. Bright metallic bronze green above without pale feather margins. Duller and more purplish on head than New Zealand race (C. 1. lucidus) which has white speckling on forehead. (For other differences, see Disney 1974.) White below with bold bronze-brown bars complete across breast and extending finely to throat. Indefinite dark mark from eye down sides of neck. Tail: outer tail feathers, buffish white barred brown; next ones in, barred rufous; rest brown with white spots on tips; central feathers lack white tips. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. Observed in October and December, but likely to be over a longer period. Three of the four adult birds caught (sexed as female on cloaca) had fully developed brood patches. Ageing. Ages for adults based on assumption that immatures will be identifiable in the autumn. Until more information is available, all spring birds should be aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar according to literature. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Ra ng e Birds ------Min Max ------All birds - Wing (mm) 5 101 108 - THL (mm) 5 34.7 37.5 - Tail ( mm) 5 63 68 - Weight ( g m) 3 22.4 24.0 Sites. Rotamah Island 1 , a Mt Pip e r 1, a st Andrews 1 , a Bendigo Whipstick 2, a TOTALS 5,0

LAUGHING KOOKABURRA, Dacelo novaeguineae

Size 9, AM. WP = 7(=8). No. 322. Kookaburras are a major threat to other birds caught in nets, particularly when netting in open situations. Better to close the nets than have casualties.

Page 38 Imm (1). Not recorded. Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Unmistakable and well described in the literature which reports that males often have some blue green in centre of rump; much reduced or absent in females (see Sexing). Moult. Adults, October to April. Breeding. August to December. Only females (on cloaca) recorded with brood patches. Ageing. Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence adults 2+. (NB. One immature was caught in February but a description was not taken.) Some unexplained variations in eye colour could be a clue to ageing. Sexing. Rump colour as a sexing character seems unreliable. Only five out of twenty two birds were sexed as males on this basis. It is possrble that this character varies with age rather than sex. Insufficient data to establish if size dimorphic but preliminary indication is that females are larger. There is a possibility of bill width and depth variation between males and females (David Peters, pers comm). Measurements.

No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) 21 217 231 - THL (mm) 22 11 0.5 125 . 1 - Tail (mm) 16 153 170 - Weight (gm) 20 2B3 417 Sites. Mt Piper 6, 1 Knowsley 3,0 Coranderrk 11 , 1 Barmah 2 , 0 TOTALS 22,2

SACRED KINGFISHER, Halcyon sancta

Size 5, AM. WP = 9(=8). No. 326. JUY (J). Bill; upper mandible, black with white tip; lower mandible, pale pink with black edges and white tip. Gape, white. spot before eye, rufous. Forehead, dark green, feathers tipped rufous. Crown, very dark green. Collar, rufous buff. Mantle and scapulars, dark green. Back and rump, pale turquoise. Primaries, black with turquoise leading edges to all but outer primary. All wing coverts, tipped rufous buff. Tail, feathers pale turquoise with broad dark grey edges. Underparts, rufous buff. (NB. Description based on bird found dead below nest.) 1m .. (1). Bill; upper mandible, black; lower mandible, pale pink or white with darker edges. Gape, white. Eye brown. spot before eye, buff. Forehead feathers, dark brown with buff tips. Plumage similar to adult female. Buff tips to secondary, median, and lesser coverts. Adult (1+). Bill, black with cream underside to lower mandible. Gape, black. spot before eye, buff. Collar, off-white. MALE: Crown and mantle, dull blue green. Rump, back, and tail, bright blue. White tips to secondary coverts. Underparts, rufous buff. FEMALE: Noticeably duller than male. Mantle and scapulars, green. Back, rump and tail, dull blue. Underparts, buff. Moult. Complete adult moult, including primaries, starts January (possibly December). No moult of tailor primaries observed in immatures caught in February. Breeding. Not observed.

Page 39 Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Summer adults, and possibly later immatures, sex able on plumage. Pizzey and Doyle 1980 report that both sexes are duller in winter (when we have not caught them); this may make sexing more difficult. Pizzey also reports that females are larger but there is no evidence of this on our sample. Measurements. Adults Immatures No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------~-- Birds ------~---- Min Max Min Max ------Wing (10m) 8 91 98 3 93 96 THL (mm) 8 66.7 72 .7 3 62.4 66.7 Tail ( mm) 8 58 64 2 59 60 Weight ( g m) 8 40.5 51. 0 3 38 .7 43.0 Sites. Mt Piper 4,1 Coranderrk 3,3 Killawarra 2 , 0 Knowsley 2,0 TOTALS 12,4

RAINBOW BEE-EATER, Merops ornatus

Size 4, AY. WP = 9(=8). No. 329. Migratory in southern Australia and difficult to catch except when breeding. Some evidence that adults are sensitive to disturbance at the nest and may desert or, more commonly, move to a different area in the next breeding season. Imm (1). Eye, brown. Bill, black. Blue stripe under black eye stripe. Greenish crown, nape, and back (crown darker). Outer primaries, greeny grey. Inner primaries and secondaries, cinnamon with broad black tips (c. 6mm). Tertials, blue green. Wing coverts, green. Rump, turquoise. Tail; inner two feathers, deep dark turquoise; remainder, black with dark turquoise outer webs. Tail streamers, absent. Chin, pale yellow cream. Throat, cinnamon; may show some blue feathers; no black band at base of throat. Breast, greenish with occasional blue feather. Abdomen, whitish with turquoise wash. Undertail coverts, light blue. Adult (1+ in southern Australia in spring and summer, 2+ in autumn). Bill and gape, black. Forehead, turquoise blue-green. Nape, golden brown. Blue streak under black eye stripe. Rump, blue. Chin, cream. Shafts of central tail feathers extend well beyond end of tail but note that streamers are often broken or worn down by nesting habits. Throat, gold. May show thin blue line under black throat patch. Rest of underparts, green fading into pale turquoise undertail coverts. MALE: Eye, some (if not all) scarlet. Long tail streamers with very thin shaft (less than 110m wide at point of minimum width). FEMALE: Eye red brown to red. Tail streamers shorter and thicker than males (up to 3 10m wide at point of minimum width). Moult. Adults and at least some immatures start primary moult in February/March in Victoria. Breeding. Usually completed by January; occasionally early February. Ageing. Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence adults aged 2+ at this time. Unknown when adult plumage attained, hence 1+ at other times. Sexing. AdUlts, on streamer length and/or width of streamer. Size dimorphic, males slightly larger.

Page 40 Measurements. Total head lengths of five males were measured. The one male caught in March had a THL 2.9 mm longer than the other four which were all caught in January. Similarly, of three females, the one caught in March had a THL 3.6 mm longer than the two caught in January. It is possible that bills wear due to breeding habits and that there are substantial seasonal variatlons. Adult Male Adult Female ------No. 0 f Mean S•D• No. 0 f Mean S. D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 16 111. 3 2.7 19 109 .7 2 . 5 Tail (mm) 11 79.7 6 . 0 14 78.9 5.6 streamer (mm) 15 1 4 • 3 n/a 18 3.5 5 .6 NB (1) Tail measured less streamer. ( 2 ) streamer measured from tip of 'normal' tail feather to tip of streamer. (3) streamer measurements include broken and unbroken feathers. ( 4 ) Weight range of 15 adults (both sexes) was 26.0 to 31.0 gm. SItes. Mt Piper 1 , 0 Killawarra 2 , 0 Merton 6,1 Lilydale 3 , 0 Taminick 23,4 Knowsley 9 ,0 TOTALS 44,5 NB. David Peters assisted wlth the preparation of this description and provided wing, tail, and streamer measurements.

SKYLARK, Alauda arvensis

Size 3, AV. WP = 8(=7). No. 993. Luckily the only introduced lark in Australia making identification easy. This description is based on European experience. Imm (1). Similar to adult. Crest, short or absent. Pale edges to feathers give a scaly appearance. Adult (1+). Streaky brown bird with noticeable crest. Lacks pale edges to feathers. Moult. In Europe, complete post juvenile and post breeding moult. Moult not observed in Australia. Breeding. Not observed. Unknown if males develop brood patches. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence age 1+ for aaults. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic in Europe males larger. Limited museum data suggest that this applies in Australia. Measurements. NB• From Australian museum specimens-. Adult Male Adult Female ------No. 0 f Range No. of Range Birds Birds Min Max Min Max

Wing (mm) 7 i06 120 4 99 105 Sites. Not caught. NB. This description was prepared by Anthony Roberts.

Page 41 ..

WELCOME SWALLOW, Hirundo neoxena

Size 2, AY. WP = 9. No. 357. This description is based in part on information provided by Priscilla Park. Some outstanding questions remain and more data are needed. Only nine' primaries.

Imm (1). Bill, dark grey. Palate, yellow. Gape, fawn. Generally non-glossy plumage, but glossy plumage may show in mantle. Some white in back. Buff tips to tertials and innermost secondary coverts. Brown tips to rump feathers. Tail fork almost absent in young immatures. Upper breast, off white. Some chestnut appearing in forehead throat and upper breast. Adult (1+ spring, 2+ autumn). Bill, black. Gape and palate, not recorded. Forehead, throat and upper breast colour varies fro. pale chestnut to brick red. Head, back, rump. and sc~pulars, dark iridescent blue. Underparts, off white. Primaries, secondaries and tail, dark brown. Moult. Adults, January to April. Breeding. September to early February (in southern Tasmania). Ageing. Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence age 2+ for adults. With present information, all spring birds are aged 1+. Sexing. Size dimorphic, males larger, also with deeper tail fork. The depth of the tail fork may provide the most useful sexing character. This is measured as the difference between longest and shortest tail feathers on the closed tail. The tail should be held in line with the body of the bird and not flexed up or down. Insufficient data for full analysis at present. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

Adults - Wing (mm) 59 102 119 - THL (mm) 47 26.4 28.8 - Tail Fork (mm) 26 17 39 - Weight (gm) 19 12 . 5 17 . 3 Sites.

Knowsley 5, 0 Bendigo 2,0 Coranderrk 11, 0 St Andrews 1, 0 Campania & Tunbridge (Tas) 45 , 11 TOTALS 64,11

TREE MARTIN, Cecropis nigricans

Size 2, AY. WP = 9(=8). No. 359. An interesting bird with much to be confirmed and more to be learned. Only nine primaries.

Imm (1). Gape, yellow fading with age. Plumage generally dUll, no glossy feathers. Forehead, buffish brown, may show some rufous. Back and rump, dark feathers with white fringes; glossy feathers start to emerge in first year. Brown fringes to scapulars, tertlals, secondaries, and lesser and median coverts. Throat, white streaked brown. Flanks, white. Sales of feet, pink.

Page 42 r I \ i

Sub-Adult (1,2-, or 2). Gape, cream. May show glossy blue feathers in crown. Forehead, grey with some rufous. Some white tips to glossy blue brown back feathers. Rump, brown feathers with white tips. White tips to secondaries. Buff fringes to lesser coverts. Brown fringes to median coverts. Throat, brown wash slightly streaked mid-brown. Flanks, mainly white with some rufous. Soles of feet. pale grey. Adult (1+,2+, or 3+). Gape, grey black. Forehead, orange rufous. Crown, nape and back, glossy blue. Rump, mottled buff white and brown. Throat, white with dark brown streaking. Flanks, bUffy rufous. Moult and Ageing. Information incomplete. Adults moult primaries January to March. No primary moult observed in immatures in January (17 birds) or March (9 birds). Sub-adults were observed in primary moult in January (4 birds out of 7). Either the sub-adults were from an early brood, in which case they are first year bird? or they are second year birds. If they are second year, adults will be age 2+ in the autumn and age 3+ in the spring. This seems the most likely explanation, given the apparent absence of primary moult in immatures in March. On the other hand, if they are first year birds and do go through a complete post-juvenile moult, they will be indistinguishable from adults by the end of their first year, in which case late autumn 'adults will be aged 1+ and spring adults will be aged 2+. Until this issue is resolved, conservative judgements are preferred. Breeding. One female with egg caught in September. Apparently difficult to sex on cloaca. Sexing. Sexes similar. Possibly size dimorphic with females larger; more data needed to confirm this. Measurements. No. of Range Birds ------Min Max ------All birds - Wing (mm) 57 97 III - THL (mm) 37 25.1 28 .0 - Tail ( mm) 54 43 53 - Weight ( g m) 57 13.8 19 .3 Sites. Knowsley 55,0 Coranderrk 2 , 0 Killawarra 1 ,0 TOTALS 58,0

FAIRY MARTIN, Cecropis ariel

Size 1, AV. WP ~ 9(~8). No. 360. Only one bird caught. Only nine primaries visible. Imm (1). Bill, black. Gape, yellow. Palate, yellow. Eye, very dark brown. Crown feathers, grey with brown tips. Secondary, median and lesser coverts, tipped buff - median coverts with slight dark grey sub-terminal band. Tertials have wide buff tips extending up shaft (rosethorns). Rump, white with slight rufous tinge. Upper tail coverts, mid-grey with 2.5 to 3 mm pale buff fringe. Chin and abdomen, white with slight rufous tinge. Rufous band round neck. Underwing coverts, rufous. Legs, feet and sales, dark grey. Adult (1+). Not observed. See literature. Moult. The bird described was caught in mid-March and showed no moult. Breeding. Not observed.

Page 43 -, I 1 j Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence age 1+ for I these birds. Sexing. No information. Measurements. Given for one immature. Wing - 90 mm THL 24.6 mm Tail - 40 mm Weight - 11.2 gm Site. Klilawarra 1,0

BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Coracina novaehollandiae

Size 6, AY. WP = 7. No. 424. Only three birds caught; all apparently adUlts, but see below. Immature and adult descriptions from the literature. Imm (1). Broad black stripe from bill, through eye, to ear coverts. Younger birds finely barred on foreheed and breast. otherwise, as adult. Free Flying (1+). Similar to adult. Bill, black (fading to grey at base in two birds). Faint grey barring on abdomen of all birds and undertail coverts of two of them. One bird (with pale base to bill) showed very distinct barring on undertail coverts. Adult (1+). Eye, very dark brown. Forehead and face, black. Upperparts, blue grey. Flight feathers blackish, edged pale grey. Tail, blackish tipped white. Throat, black. Breast, grey. Rest of underparts, white. Moult. Primary moult of free-flying birds completed by end of April. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Significance of barring on undertail coverts unknown, but a possible ageing character. Sexing. Sexes similar. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

Free-Flying - Wing (mm) 3 204 208 - THL (mm) 3 58.7 60.7 - Tail(mm) 3 152 157 - Weight (gm) 3 107 117 Site. Knowsley 3,0

WHITE-WINGED TRILLER, Lalage sueurii

Size 3, AY. WP = 8(=7). No. 430. This description applies to birds in the south of Australia and may be of little value to banders in the north. Males go into eclipse plumage (similar to female plumage) on completion of northward migration. Signs of this may be present on arrival in the south in the spring and just prior to their departure. The bander should be aware of this to avoid mistakes in ageing.

Page 44 Imm (1). Bill; upper mandible, brown; lower mandible, orange tipped brown. Gape, orange. Eyebrow, tan. Mantle, nape, and crown, dark brown feathers edged white. Buff edges to all wing feathers. Median coverts have a dark subterminal band. Lesser coverts, tan. Rump and upper tail coverts, tan faintly barred dark grey. Tail, central feathers mid-brown grading outward to dark brown; outer feathers with pale buff tips. Upper breast, buff. Lower breast, streaked dark brown. Sub-adult (2- spring, 2 summer). Gape, grey. Traces of immature and adult plumage throughout, particularly streaking in head. Non-synchronous growth bars in tail. MALE: Upper mandible, black. Lower mandible, brown or pink/orange tipped brown. FEMALE: Upper mandible, brown. Lower mandible, as male. Adult Male (2+ autumn, 3+ spring). Bill, black. Glossy black crown, nape and back. Underparts, pure white. White shoulders and edges to coverts. Lower back and rump, pale grey. Tail, black with white corners. Adult Female (2+ autumn, 3+ spring). Bill, upper mandible, brown; lower mandible, pale orange tipped brown. Eyebrow, buff. Crown brown with darker streaks. Nape and back, brown. Rump and base of tail, pale brown. Edges and tips of flight feathers, white. Buff tips to median coverts. Upper tail coverts, tipped white with black subterminal bands. Buff breast slightly barred dark brown. Rest of underparts, white. Moult. Adults and sub-adults start complete moult in late December/January. Breeding. Observed November to January but probably over a longer period. Both sexes develop large brood patches. Both adults and sub-adUlts observed in breeding condition. Ageing. Based on catching all three ages at the same time of year. On completion of mOUlt, sub-adults are indistinguishable from full adults, hence assigned ages. Sexing. Adults and some sub-adUlts, on plumage and soft parts. Sub-adults which are not sexable on plumage can be sexed on cloaca in breeding condition. No convincing evidence of size dimorphism, but samples small and there is a suggestion that males are larger. Measurements. Adult & Sub-Adult Immature

No. of Mean 5 . D• No. 0 f Mean S. D. Birds Birds ------Wing (mm) 16 100.2 2.54 8 98.4 2.67 THL (mm) 16 38.4 0.55 6 36.7 0.69 Tail (mm) 16 76.1 2.22 7 75.1 1 .21 Min Max Min Max

Weight ( g m) 16 24.8 27.5 6 22.5 26.9 Sites. Mt Piper 6,0 Knowsley 6 , 0 Killawarra 12 , 0 TOTALS 24,0

BLACKBIRD, Turdus merula

Size 6, AV. WP = 7(=6). No. 991. Introduced around 1860. Spreading from the towns into the bush. European habits of winter roost formation and long distance migration apparently lost. Easily tongued in net. Aggressive in the hand.

Page 45 "e- I u

Juv (J). Plumage similar to, but paler and more rufous than, adult female. Streaking on underparts more pronounced except on throat. Body feathers, median and lesser coverts have buff rosethorns. Imm (1 to 2-). Bill, brown or blackish. Upper parts, brownish black. Buffish fringes to greater coverts. No (or little) throat streaking. MALE: Dark brown outer secondary coverts, primaries and secondaries contrast with remaining black wing feathers (best seen on closed wing). Tail, black. FEMALE: Brown outer secondary coverts, primaries and secondaries contrast with remaining dark brown wing feathers. Tail, brown. Adult Male (2+). Bill and eye ring, yellow but may be red in wet sclerophyll forest. All black plumage. Adult Female (2+). Bill, dark pinkish or yellowish brown. Upperparts, greyish brown tinged olive. Streaked throat and b r e.a s t , Tail, b r own • Moult. Complete post breeding moult of adults and immatures, December to March. Breeding. September to December. Only females develop brood patches. Ageing. Traces of immature plumage retained into second year, hence assigned ages. Sexing. Adults, immatures and some juveniles on plumage. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Male Female ------No. of Mean 5.0. No. of Mean 5.0. Birds Birds ------Adult - Wing (mm) 25 131 . 1 3 • 16 24 126.5 3 .67 - THL (mm) 24 53.3 1.12 21 53.0 o .98 - Tail (mm) 10 109.9 L~ • 70 6 104.7 4.63 Imm - Wing (mm) 23 128.8 3.63 19 124.2 2.37 - THL (mm) 22 53.4 0.88 16 52.7 0.92 - Tail (mm) 6 104.3 4.37 1 100.0 Min Max Min Max

Adult Weight (gm) 16 84 95 17 80 96 Imm Weight (gm) 20 82 94 17 81 91 Note. The weight of a female, caught five times, ranged from 85 gm to 92 gm. Sexing Criterion. To assist sexing immatures. Level Females Males Percent ( %) if Less if More Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed

Imm Wing (mm) 95 123 130 42.0 0.5 57.5 Sites.

Coranderrk 60,17 Rotamah Island 0, 1 Heidelberg 42,30 TOTALS 102,48 NB. This description was largely provided by Anthony Roberts.

P ag e 46 SONG THRUSH, Turdus philomelos

Size 5, AM. WP ~ 8(~7,~9) No. 992. Introduced around 1860 for its magnificent song. Uncommon, confined to inner city areas. Very noisy and sheds feathers when handled. Not a good bird to catch when introducing Granny to banding. This description is based largely on experience in Europe. JUY (J). Plumage similar to adults, but upperparts streaked buff. Thin buff rosethorns to all wing coverts . . Imm (1 to 2-). Similar to adult but with buff streaked upperparts. Buff rosethorns to most wing coverts; these may show on body feathers of younger birds. Adult (2+). Upperparts, brown. Underparts, heavily spotted dark brown on buffish upper breast and off white lower breast and abdomen. Wing coverts have buff tips, but no rosethorns. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. Not observed. Only females develop brood patches in Europe. Ageing. Immature plumage retained into second year, hence age 2+ for adults. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Can be sexed on brood patch in breeding condition. Measurements. An indication of the shrinkage that occurs in museum specimens is given by the wing length measurements below. All measurements are of Australian birds. No. of Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) - Museum 9 114 119 All birds - Wing (mm) 3 118 125 - THL (mm) 2 47.2 49.2 - Weight (gm) 2 62.1 63.0 Site. Heidelberg 3,0 NB. This description was prepared by Anthony Roberts

SOUTHERN SCRUB-ROBIN, Orymodes brunneopygia

Size 4, AV. WP ~ 6~7. No. 441 Imm (1). Bill, dark grey with paler base to lower mandible. Gape, grey white to mid-~rey. Eye, dark brown. Eye-ring, faint pale grey. Narrow vertlcal black stripe 'through' eye. Upperparts! grey brown. Rump, grey brown to brownish rufous. Alula, medlan coverts, and most of secondary coverts, dark brown with white tips. Tertials and innermost secondary coverts, black with rufous brown fringes. Tail and upper tail coverts, rufous brown with white or buff tip to tail. Chin and throat, white. Breast and abdomen, off-white. Flanks and undertail coverts, light brown. Legs, dark grey. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Gape, dark grey to black. Eye, dark brown. Eye-ring, off-white. Conspicuous vertical black stripe 'through' eye. Upperparts, dark grey brown, crown darker. Rump, rufous. Wings, brown with white tips to lesser and primary coverts. Tail, rufous brown tipped white. Legs, black.

Page 47 ..

Moult. Adult moult not observed. Nearly complete primary moult of an immature bird observed in March. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Literature reports males larger. Measurements. No. of Range Birds ------Min Max ------All birds - Wing (mm) 5 91 99 - THL (mm) 5 37.7 40.2 - Tail (mm) 5 101 109 - Weight ( g m) 5 32.6 36.9 Sites. Big Billy Bore 3,0 Wail 2,0 TOTALS 5 , 0

ROBINS IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

The identification of young and female robins can be tricky for banders unfamiliar with them. Location, habitat, season and altitude all give clues. The key below may assist in cases of doubt. Ql. Does it have a wing length greater than 70 mm? YES. Go to Q2. NO. Go to Q3. Q2. Does it show a reddish wash in the breast? YES. SCARLET ROBIN. NO. FLAME ROBIN. Q3. Are the outer tail feathers predominantly white? YES. Go to Q4. NO. PINK ROBIN. Q4. Does it have SMALL white (adUlt) or buff (immature) spot on the forehead? YES. ROSE ROBIN. NO. RED-CAPPED ROBIN. Other Points Some adult female Flame Robins have an orange wash to the breast. Some Pink Robins have a bit of white in the tail. Pink Robins are generally duskier brown than other species with orange buff in wing bar. Pink and Rose Robins have short legs with orange sales to the feet.

Page 48 r J

ROSE ROBIN, Petroica rosea

Size 1, AV. WP = 7(=6). No 384. Only two birds caught. Imm (1). Bill; upper mandible, black; lower mandible, bone. Gape, yellow. Forehead spot, buff. Crown, grey brown. Back and nape, brown streaked buff. Slight brown tips to all wing coverts. Wing bar, buff. Oowny feathers in rump. Adult Male (1+). Bill, black. Forehead spot, white. outer tail feathers white. Upperparts, crown and throat, mid-grey (see Pink Robin). Breast, bright rose pink. Underparts, white. Adult Female (1+). Bill, black with pale horn base to lower mandible. Gape, yellow. Forehead spot, buff. Tail, dark brown with white outer tail feathers. Upperparts/ grey brown with cream white wing bars. Underparts grey white, may sometimes have faint (occasionally bright) rose wash to breast. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. One female observed in breeding condition in January. There is some evidence that males breed before acquiring full adult plumage (Ooug Robinson, pers comm). Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Breeding of brown males suggests that full adult males may be aged 2+. Sexing. Adults on plumage. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. Win THL Tail Weight (mm (mm) (mm) ( g m) J ------Immature 62 27.4 50 9 .2 Adu It Female 67 27 .7 55 7 • 6 Sites. Toolangi 1,0 Coranderrk 1,0 TOTALS 2 , 0

PINK ROBIN, Petroica rodinogaster Size 1, AV. WP = 6(=7,=5). No. 383. Apart from the larger yellow gape of immatures there are no apparent differences between adults and immatures in the colour of soft parts. Imm (1). Pale shafts to upper nape and crown feathers. Oark buff fringes to lesser and median coverts. Tail black, outermost feathers have grey fringes. Adult Male (1+). Bill, black with pinkish base to lower mandible. No white in wings and tail. Wholly sooty black above usually with very small white mark over bill. Throat and upper breast, sooty. Rest of underparts, dusky pink. Adult Female (1+). Bill, black with buff base to lower mandible. Crown, uniform brown. Oeep olive brown above with rich buff double wing bar. May have small buff white mark over bill and pale edges to tail but no white. Lesser and median coverts, brown, paler at outside. Underparts fawn with grey buff wash across breast, occasionally with faint pink wash. Moult. Not observed.

Page 49

.i i Breeding. One female observed in breeding condition in January. It is known that males breed in brown plumage (Doug Robinson, pers comm). Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+; although it is likely that full plumage males are aged 2 + • Sexing. Adults on plumage. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. Adu It Immature No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 3 66 69 2 64 THL (mm) 3 28.3 28.9 2 28.2 28.3 Ta 11 ( mm) 2 54 58 2 49 51 Weight ( g m) 3 7 . 6 1 0 . 2 2 7 . 8 11 . 3 Sites. Toolangi 4,0 Mt Piper 1,0 TOTALS 5,0

FLAME ROBIN, Petroica phoenicea

Size 1, AV. WP = 7(=6). No. 382. No birds caught between October and March. 110m (1). Bill, dull black. Gape, yellow. Small white spot on forehead with some buff specks. Lares, darkish. Face, brown. Buff to russet tips to feathers on crown. Faint buff eye-stripe. Upperparts, brown. Buff wing bar. Buff tips to median and greater coverts. Some older immatures can be sexed as males by emergent bright orange feathers in underparts. Adult Male (1+). Bill, black. Gape, some yellow and some black. Eye, dark brown. Small white forehead spot. Upperparts, dark grey. Chin, grey. Rest of underparts, bright flame red. Prominent white wing bar. Outer tail feathers, white.

Adult Female (1+). Bill, black. Gape, some yellow and some dark grey. Eye, dark brown. Upperparts, buff grey brown. Throat and breast, usually grey buff with brown wash to breast, occasionally with orange wash. Rest of underparts, greyish white. Prominent buff white wing bar. Outer tail feathers white. Moult. Adult primary moult starts January (Pauline Reilly, pers comm). Breeding. Not observed by us. Pairs have been observed breeding in brown plumage (Pauline Reilly, pers comm). Ageing. No immatures observed in spring suggesting that adult plumage may be acquired in first year. On the other hand, the observation of breeding brown birds may indicate that this plumage is not acquired until the second year. Until this issue is resolved, eg by re-trap data, adults are better aged as 1+. Significance of different coloured gapes in apparent adults unknown. NB. Literature reports that some males don't acquire full adult plumage until their third year (Doug Robinson, pers comm) • Sexing. Adults on plumage. No evidence of size dimorphism.

Page 50 Measurements. No. of Mean 5 .0. Birds ------Adult - Wing ( mm) ~O 78.6 1 .61 - THL ( mm) 20 30.4 0.49 - Tail ( mm) 14 5 6 . 0 1 .52 Min Max

- Weight ( g m) 29 11. 2 14. 6 Site. Mt Piper 26,3

SCARLET ROBIN, Petroica multicolor

Size 1, AY. WP = 7(=6). No. 380. Juv (J). Bill, dark grey with paler grey base. Gape, orange. White shafts on brown crown and back feathers give streaked appearance. 111m (1 to 2-). Bill, dull black. Gape, yellow. Forehead spot, buff or absent. Face, pale. Upperparts, ash brown, may have pale semi-collar. Appea~s more mottled than Flame Robin immature. Buff tips to wing coverts. Wing stripe, buff. Downy feathers in rump and back. Many birds have pink, red or orange wash to breast. Later males have emergent scarlet feathers in breast and black feathers in crown and upperparts. Adult Male (2+). Bill, black. Gape, some yellow and some black. Eye, dark brown. Upperparts, black with white forehead spot (sometimes with red wash near upper edge). Prominent white wing bar. Throat and upper breast, jet black. Lower breast and underparts, scarlet. Undertail coverts, white. outer tail feathers white. Adult Female (1+). Bill, black. Gape, some yellow and some black. Eye, dark brown. Upperparts, grey olive brown with small buff white forehead spot and prominent buff white wing bar. Breast has pale red wash. Outer tail feathers, mostly white. Moult. Adult primary moult observed November and January. No primary moult observed in age 1 birds. Immature males and females both moult directly into adult plumage, except that males retain bUff, not white, wing bar (Doug Robinson, pers comm). Breeding. Observed September to November. No males observed with brood patches. Ageing. Not known when adult female plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Birds in adult male plumage except for buff wing bar will be aged 2 or 2-; full adults will be aged 2+. Variation in gape colour in birds otherwise apparently adult awaits an explanation. More information is needed on the timing of moult to confirm assigned age codes. Sexing. Adults, on plumage. No evidence of size dimorphism.

Page 51 ~ '!

Measurements. Adu It Immature

No. 0 f Mean 5 .0. No. 0 f Mean 5 .0. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 25 74 .6 1 .41 8 73.9 1 . l,6 THL (mm) 15 30.6 0.52 6 30.4 1 .15 Tail (mm) 17 54.5 1.62 7 55 . l, 2.23 Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) 29 10.0 13.6 8 7.8 1 3 • 1 NB. The weight of an edult male, caught four times, ranged from 10.0 gm in the afternoon to 13.6 gm in the evening. Sites. Mt Piper 29 ,7 Coranderrk 2,0 Wail 4 , 0 TOTALS 35,7

RED-CAPPED ROBIN, Petroica goodenovii

Size 1, AV. WP ; 7. No 381. Juv (J). Bill, blackish grey. Gape and palate, orange yellow. Forehead and front of crown (cap), dull red. Crown, streaked buff. Upperparts, white streaks. Buff edges to coverts and wing feathers. Breast, heavily streaked.

1.. 01 (l or 2-). Bill, black. Gape, yellow. Cap, dull red. Plumage intermediate between juvenile and adult. Outer web of outer tail feathers, white. Adult Male (2+). Bill, black. Gape, yellow (although black gape observed in one bird). Cep and breast, brilliant red. Upperparts, black. Outer web of outer tail feathers, white with black patch near end. Adult female (1+). Bill, black. Gape, yellow. Forehead has reddish/chestnut wash. Upperparts, pale buff grey. Underparts, whitish with buff grey wash on breast. Moult. Adults; complete moult, January to April. Breeding. September to December. No males recorded with brood patches. Ageing. One bird captured in early spring in breeding condition and aged as a sub-adult male due to incomplete adult plumage was recaptured five months later and was recorded as moulting into full adult plumage for the first time. This suggests that the birds do not acquire full adult plumage until their second year, but the possibility of adult males going into an eclipse plumage cannot be excluded. Either way, adult males will be aged 2+. Unknown when adult female plumage acquired, hence age 1+ for these birds. Immatures in spring following fledging will be aged 2-. Sexing. Adults, on plumage. No evidence of size dimorphism.

Page 52 Measurements.

No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

Adults - Wing (mm) 17 59 66 - THL (mm) 7 27 .4 28.6 - Tail (mm) 10 45 49 _ Weight (gm) 21 8 .4 9 . 5 Sites. Mt Piper 12,2 Knowsley 1,0 Big Billy Bore 4,1 Killawarra 2,0 TOTALS 19,3

HOODED ROBIN, Melanodryas cucullata

Size 2, AY. WP = 7(=6). No. 385. More work is needed on this species to confirm the results given below. Moult strategy, if known, would materially assist ageing. We have caught few birds in moult. Juv (J). Bill, dark grey with pale edges to mandibles. Palate, yellow. Gape, yellow. General appearance very streaky. Crown and back feathers, grey with buff shafts and black tips. Off-white tips to wing coverts. Tertials, tipped brownish white. Throat and upper breast feathers, grey at base, brown in middle, tipped black. Abdomen feathers, white with black fringes. MALE: Primaries and tail, black. FEMALE: Primaries and tail, dark brown. Imm (1 or 2-). Bill, black. Palate, off-white. Gape, grey, may show a trace of yellow. General dark grey appearance. Crown, slightly streaked grey brown. May show trace of juvenile pluma~e around gape and in back. Primaries and tail, as juvenlle. Throat and upper breast have faint cream streaks. Males may have black feathers emerging in breast later in the year. Sub-adult Male (2- spring? 2 summer). Bill, black. Plumage intermediate between immature and adult. Adult Male (2+ autumn, 3+ spring). Bill and gape, black. Eye, chocolate br~wn. Feet and legs, black. Black hood extends down upper breast. White bar on black shoulder. Wing, black with white bar. White tips to greater coverts. Tail, black with white panel on outer tail feathers. Underparts, white. Adult Female (2+). Soft parts as adult male. Upperparts, grey brown. No white bar on shoulder. White wing bar on dark brown wing. White panel on outer tail feathers. Tail, dark brown. Throat and upper breast, grey. Moult. Adult primary moult, Oecember to March. Adult wing coverts obtained in second year. Breeding. Normally September to November but observed in breeding condition post-drought in autumn, 1983. Only females develop large brood patches. Ageing. Age codes based on re-trap data. Immature characters retained for the best part of a year at least. No sub-adult females identified (but they may not have been caught or there may be no female plumage phase intermediate between immatures and adults) . Sexing. All ages sexable on plumage. Size dimorphic, males larger.

Page 53 •

Measurements. All Males All Females ------No. of Mean S . D. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds ------Wing (mm) 11 98.4 2 . 11 10 92.0 2.45 THL (mm) 10 38.0 o.90 10 37.3 0.81 Tail (mm) 6 70.3 3.07 7 65.3 2.63 Min Max Min Max

Weight ( g m) 24 20.8 25.2 15 19 • 5 25.1 Note. The weight of an adult male, caught six times, ranged between 22.3 gm in the morning and 25.2 gm in the evening. Sites.

Mt Piper 18,18 Knowsley 2, 0 Wail 3 , 0 Killawarra 4, 0 TOTALS 27,18

DUSKY ROBIN, Melanodryas vittata

Size 3, AV. NO. 386. An endemic Tasmanian robin which favours dry forests and woodland areas. It may ba confusad with immature Scarlet Robins and immature and female Flame Robins but can usually be saparatad by its longer wing, greater than 80 mm. Juv (J). Gape, yellow. Feathers of head and back, greyish brown with a very pala buff central shaft giving a striped appaarance. No wing bar. Feathars of throat and breast, very pale bUff, edged grey. Abdomen feathers, grey base with white tip; abdomen appears mottled when feathers are ruffled. Imm (1). Gape, brown. Some juvenile feathers may remain on the head and back, thus the streaking is retained. A small wing bar and the tips of primaries and secondaries are buff. The bird has a slight brownish wash allover. Adult (1+). Gape, black. Head and back, an even dark brown tinged grey. Throat, similar but paler. Breast and sides of abdomen, greyish brown. Wing bar and edges of secondaries, off-white. Primaries, sometimes with a very fine off-white tip. No brownish wash to plumage. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. September to December. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. NB. Taken from museum specimens. All Males All Females No. of Mean S. D. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 35 89.5 1 .9 22 85.8 3.4 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green.

Page 54 r r [ EASTERN YELLOW ROBIN, Eopsaltria australis 1 r Size 2, AY. No. 392. Nice birds, but noisy. JUY (J). Bill, brown; creamy at edges of mandibles. Gape, yellow. Eye, greyish brown. Orange eye ring. Brown plumage with buff streaking. No yellow except for trace round cloaca. May have olive green feathers in back and neck. Leading edges of secondaries, olive green. Feet and legs, yellow. Imm (1). Variable mixture of juvenile and adult plumage . .Loses juvenile characters rapidly. Last trace usually brown tips to one or more greater coverts. Pointed tail feathers conspicuous in fresh tail. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Gape, black. Eye, dark brown. Upperparts, grey wi~h olive wash on lower back and rump. Chin, white. Rest of underparts, bright yellow. Feet and legs, dark brown grey. Moult. Immatures moult body feathers in first year. Adult primary moult, December to March. Breeding. September to March. Sexable on cloaca. Both sexes (on cloaca and measurements) develop brood patches. Immatures caught in breeding condition. Ageing. Full adult plumage can be acquired in as little as four months, but usually 10ngWr (re-trap data). (NB Immature tail and primaries can be difficult to pick out.) Hence age 1+ for adults. Some birds can be aged to 2 or 2- on very worn primaries in the late spring. Stephen Marchant, pers comm, reports that at Moruya NSW post-juvenile moult is completed by c. 90 days and that the yellow sales of immatures are retained for about one year. We have not recorded this character in the past; however, two birds in primary moult in February 1986 still had yellow sales four months later. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Ma r e Female ------No. of Mean S .0. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds ------Adult - Wing (mm) 45 86.8 1.72 28 81.2 1 • 1 8 - THL (mm) 46 38.5 0.84 23 35.9 0.64 Tail ( mm) 30 67. 2 2 . 18 24 63.3 2.38 Imm - Wing (mm) 33 85.4 1. 87 32 80.0 1.73 - THL (mm) 34 38.1 0.70 34 35.5 0.69 - Tail (mm) 30 67 .4 2.00 30 63. 1 1. 9 8 Min Max

•/ All birds - Both Sexes - Weight ( g m) 233 17 .0 26.2 Note. The weight of one bird, caught nine times, ranged from 20.5 to 23.1 gm. Over two years, its weight gradually increased. Sexing Criteria. Level Female Male Percent UO if Less if More Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed

Adult THL (mm) 95 36.4 37.7 80.6 0.4 19 .0 Imm THL (mm) 95 36.2 37 .4 84.3 o . 3 1 5 • 4

Page 55 Sites.

Mt Piper 34,28 Barry Beach 1, 0 Knowsley 9, 1 Toolangi 3, 0 Varinga 8, 0 Coranderrk 67,40 Rotamah I. 14, 0 Killawarra 1, 0 st Andrews 10, 1 Dandenong 2, a TOTALS 149,70

JACKY WINTER, Microeca leucophaea

Size 1, AV. WP = 7(=8). No. 377. A wily bird, difficult to catch in mist nets. Juv (J). Upperparts, dusky brown with whitish spots. Pale spots on tips of wing feathers. Tail, with white outer feathers. Underparts, off-white with brownish spots. (Bowles 1985) 111m (1). Bill; upper mandible, black; lower mandible, pink with dark tip. Palate, orange yellow. Gape, off white. Eyebrow, indistinct. Upperparts, grey speckled white. White tips to wing coverts. Tail, as adult. Breast, white speckled dark grey.

Adult (1+). Bill, black. Palate, grey. Gape, dark grey. Upperparts, grey brown with white edges to wing feathers. Eyebrow, dull white. Underparts, white with grey/buff wash on breast. Tail, blackish with white outer feathers. Moult. Adult primary moult completed in March. Breeding. Only observed in October and November but probably over a longer period. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Sexable on cloaca in breeding condition. Insufficient birds caught to determine if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds ------Min Max ------Adu it - Wing (mm) 6 87 92 - THL (mm) 6 30.7 31 .5 - Tail ( mm) 5 54 60 - Weight ( g m) 9 15 . 4 17.9 Sites.

Mt Piper 4,1 Wail 4,0 Killawarra 1,0 TOTALS 9 , 1

•i-:

CRESTED SHRIKE-TIT, Falcunculus frontatus

Size 3, AV. No. 416. A painful mist net extraction. Once in bander's grip, the head can be kept still by a gentle upward pressure on the lower mandible. Usually caught in threes; if only one caught, the other two escaped. Imm (1). Generally paler than adult. Eye, brown with inner red brown ring developing. Bill, black with white tip and grey upper edge to lower mandible. Gape, yellow fading to cream. Brown downy feathers in scapulars and rump. Lemon edges to coverts. Throat, greenish. Feat and legs, blue. •

Page 56 Adult (1+). Eye, reddish brown. Bill, black. Gape, black. Plumage, unmistakeable. MALE: Throat, black. FEMALE: Throat, olive green. Moult. Immatures moult body feathers in first year. Adu It primary moult December to March. Breeding. November to January. Observed in breeding condition post-drought in 19B3. No males observed with brood patches. Ageing. Immature rapidly acquires adult plumage in first year. Soft part colouration retained longer (period unknown). If first primary moult of immatures is in the second year, they will be ageable on feather wear and adults will be aged 2+. Sexing. Adults and some immatures sexable on plumage. Size dimorphic, males larger. Some immatures not showing traces of adult plumage can probably be sexed on measurements. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Mean S .0. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 10 97.4 2.46 7 90.1 2.61 THL (mm) 10 38.7 0.63 7 36.4 1.00 Tail (mm) 9 83.8 3.96 5 74.8 3. 19 Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) 13 27.6 33.2 9 22.4 27 .2 Sexing Criterion. Given below for adults to assist sexing of immatures. Size difference between immatures and adults unknown. Level Female Male Percent Sexed (% ) if Less if More ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult THL ( mm) 95 37.0 38.7 61 • 3 o . 7 38 • 0 Sites. Mt Piper 6 , 2 Barmah 4 , 0 Wail 2,0 Coranderrk 5,0 Knowsley 4 , 0 TOTALS 21,2

OLIVE WHISTLER, Pachycephala olivacea

Size 4, AV. WP = 6(=5). No. 405. Imm (1). Bill; upper mandible, grey brown; lower mandible, horn with faintly yellow cutting edge at base. Gape, yellow cream. Eye, brown with red inner ring apparently developing with age. Forehead and crown, grey brown merging to olive brown nape. Mantle and back, olive brown. Rump and upper tail coverts, olive green. Primaries and secondaries, dark grey brown with rufous fringes (wider on outer edge) on inner feathers shading to olive on outer feathers. Lesser coverts, appear olive because of wide olive tips on dark grey feathers. Median coverts, dark grey brown with olive edges. Secondary coverts, dark grey brown; inner feathers have wide olive outer edge, outer feathers with rufous fringes and wide rufous outer edges. Tail, olive green. Chin and throat, whitish unevenly barred black. Band on upper breast, dark brown. Rest of underparts, mid-rufous brown. Undertail coverts, mid-rufous brown with white tips. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Eye, brick red. MALE: Head, dark ~rey. Upperparts, olive brown. Chin and throat, white with lncomplete grey bars. Underparts, buffish brown with greyish band on upper breast. FEMALE: Similar to, but duller than, male. Barring on throat, absent.

Page 57 ------.,

Moult and Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Adults on plumage. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

All birds - Wing (mm) 3 95 104 - THL (mm) 3 42.0 43.0 - Tail (mm) 3 90 98 - Weight (gm) 3 39.5 43 . 1 Sites. I

Coranderrk 2,0 Toolangi 1 , 0 TOTALS 3,0

GILBERT'S WHISTLER, Pachycephala inornatus

Size 3, AV. WP = 7=6(=5). No. 403. Imm (lor 2-). Similar to adult female. Eye, dark brown. Bill, dark grey. Gape, buff cream. Palate, grey with traces of yellow. Eye ring feathers, buff. Buff rufous underwing patch may be very faint or incomplete. Breast and abdomen may have fine dark grey streaks similar to those of the female Rufous Whistler (P. rufiventris).

Adult Male (2+). Eye, dull red. Bill, glossy black. Gape, dark grey. Palate, grey. Eye ring feathers, dark grey to -r black. Lores, black. Throat and upper breast, rufous orange. Rest of upperparts, dark brown grey. Underparts, light grey. Underwing patch, buff rufous. Adult Female (2+). Eye, red brown. Bill, black. Gape, dark grey. Palate, grey. Eye ring feathers, rufous. Lores, light grey. Upperparts, dark grey. Throat, light grey and paler than rest of underparts. Moult. Adult primary moult, January to March. Adult tail and body moult in autumn. Immature tail moult in spring following fledging (possibly incomplete) followed by primary moult in late summer/autumn. Breeding. Observed August to November. Some immature females breed before gaining full adult plumage. Observed in breeding condition post-drought in 1983. Ageing. Immatures readily identifiable well into second year by feather wear, hence adults aged 2+. Sexing. Adults, on plumage. Older immatures may be sexed by colour of eye and eye ring feathers. Both sexes develop brood •• patches; only females observed with large ones. Unknown if size " dimorphic. Measurements. No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) 13 96 106 - THL (mm) 13 37.2 40.3 - Tail (mm) 10 83 94 - Weight (gm) 19 28.4 39.5 Sites. Bendigo Whipstick 17 , 14 Mt Piper 1 , 1 TOTALS 18,15

Page 58 GOLOEN WHISTLER, PacRycephala pectoralis Size 3, AY. WP = 6(=7). No. 398. A beautiful bird, but difficult to age and sex. Juv (J). Bill, grey with pink base to lower mandible. Palate, pale pink. Gape, yellow. Eye, dark brown. Body feathers, rufous. Rufous outer edges to secondaries and secondary coverts. Yellow feathers around cloaca, absent initially, grow soon after fledging. Imm (1 to 2-). Bill, dull black with whitish base to lower mandible becoming black. Palate, pale pink becoming creamy ~hite. Gape, yellow becoming whitish. Eye, brown. General appearance as adult female. Traces of juvenile plumage in back, crown and throat. Rufous fringes to wing covarts and outer edges of secondaries. Feathers around cloaca, yellow in both sexes. Adult Male (2+ aut~mn, 3+ spring). Bill and gape black. Eye, brick red. Head, black. Throat, white. Upper breast band, black. Nape, yellow. upperparts, olive yellow. Primaries, black edged greyish yellow. Tail, dark grey. Underparts, bright yellow. Adult Female (2+). Bill, gape, and eye, as adult male. Upperparts, olive grey. Throat and breast, greyish. Abdomen, buffish. Yellow feathers around cloaca. Colours of underparts vary geographically. Some South Australian birds have very rufous underparts (Hugh Ford, pers comm). This applies also to Western Australian birds and has been observed in the Bendigo Whipstick in Victoria. Some females from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland have lemon wash on undertail coverts (Pizzey and Doyle, 1980). Moult. Adult primary moult, December to April. Breeding. Usually September to December. Bred post drought in 1983 (carrying egg). Both sexes develop large brood patches. Birds can breed in second year (carrying egg). Ageing and Sexing. Ages given based on re-traps. All 'brown' birds with no trace of immature characters are aged 2+ and cannot usually be sexed. Brown birds are either sub-adult males (age 2) or adult females (age 2+) and can only be sexed as females if there is irrefutable evidence eg cloaca or carrying egg. It is possible that second year males can be separated from adult females on bill colour but we have insufficient data to confirm this. Feather wear and tail bars are useful age indicators. Adult males identifiable on plumage. Some immatures can be sexed as males with emergent yellow feathers in flanks and under tail coverts (age 2- or 2). Not known if size dimorphic. See also comments under Measurements. Measurements. Data analysis incomplete. Brown birds fall into two size groups. We do not know if this size dimorphism is indicative of sex, of age, or of a combination of sex and age. Re-trap data is needed to resolve the difficulty. No. of Mean S. D. Birds Wing (mm) - Small Brown 45 95.0 2.24 - Large Brown 67 97.8 2 . 16 - Adult Male 15 99.1 1 .91 Min Max

All birds - Weight (gm) 98 22.4 29.2 Sites. Mt Piper 19, 5 Toolangi 2 , 3 Barmah 1, 0 Wail 4, 2 Yaringa 1 , 0 Coranderrk 40, 8 Rotamah Island 2, 1 st Andrews 1 ,0 Knowsley 4, 0 Bendigo Whipstick 81,29 Big Billy Bore 1 , D TOTALS 156,48

Page 59 ~~~~------

RUFOUS WHISTLER, Pachycephala rufiventris Size 3, AY. No. 401. Plumage variable ranging from very strongly marked to very pale in both sexes. Adult females caught in northern Victoria and the Bendigo Whipstick had a rufous wash to underparts, usually absent in those caught at more southerly sites. Juv (J). Bill, pale, streaked and mottled grey. Gape, yellow. Plumage, similar to adult female but the breast has prominent dark grey spots. General buff tones to plumage, particularly edges of wing feathers. Deep buff edges to secondaries and tertials. Imm (lor 2-). Bill; upper mandible, black; lower mandible, pink brown. Palate, orange yellow. Gape, yellow fading to cream. Eye, brown. Plumage as adult female but with heavier streaking on underparts, particularly the undertail coverts. Sub-Adult Male (2- spring, 2 summer). Bill, black. Palate, pale rufous. Gape, black. Adult male markings can be seen emerging faintly on upper breast and cheeks. Dark streaks on all underparts. Adult Male (2+ autumn, 3+ spring). Bill, black. Palate, black. Gape, black. Eye, red brown. Upperparts, grey. Black facial mask extends down side of neck around breast in broad band separating white throat from rufous underparts. Adult Female (2+). Bill, black. Palate, black. Gape, black. Eye, red brown. Upperparts, brown grey. Underparts, cream white with dark grey streaks, may be washed buff/rufous. Moult. Adult primary moult starts December/January. No primary moult observed in birds in their first year. Breeding. October to January. Observed in breeding condition post drought in 1983. Both sexes develop large brood patches. Immature or sub-adult males have been observed breeding (Hugh Ford, pers comm). Ageing. Juvenile plumage lost within five weeks (re-traps). Immatures identifiable at start of second year by worn primaries, hence adult females aged 2+. Age codes for males are based on obserVing both sub-adults and adults in the spring. Sexing. Adults, on plumage. Some immatures can be sexed on emergent adult plumage. Not size dimorphic. Measurements. Adu it Immature ------1 No. 0 f Mean 5 • D• No. of Mean 5 . D. Birds Birds ------Wing (mm) 38 96.9 2 .28 10 94.4 2.07 THL (mm) 40 38.4 0.66 10 38 • 6 0.52 Tail (mm) 25 71.6 2.16 10 72 .0 2.95 ,. All Birds / ------Min Max

Weight (gm) 87 23.8 31.4

Note. The weight of an adult female, caught five times, ranged ,I between 25.1 gm in the morning and 29.4 gm in the evening. t Sites. Rotamah Island 1, a Mt Piper 40,20 Wail 1,0 Coranderrk 7, a Killawarra 11, a Knowsley 8 , 1 Bendigo Whipstick 59,20 TOTALS i27,41

7

Page 60 GREY SHRIKE-THRUSH, Colluricincla harmonica

Size 5, AM. WP = 7(=6,=5). No. 408. Juv (J). Bill, black. Gape, cream. Palate, orange. Brown fringes to all coverts. Underparts, completely streaked. Much smaller than immature. Primaries may not be fully grown with feather sheaths visible. Imm (1). Gape yellow cream or cream. Eyebrow, rufous. Rufous fringes to cheek feathers and eye ring. Brown fringes to greater coverts. Rufous in throat. Breast and flanks heavily streaked. MALE: Bill, black. FEMALE: Bill; upper mandible, varies from black to grey; lower mandible, pale grey. Sub-Adult (2). Gape, black. Rufous in plumage usually replaced by buff; some traces might remain. Breast less heavily streaked than immature. MALE: Bill, black. FEMALE: Bill; upper mandible, grey; lower mandible, pale grey. Adult (3+). Generally grey plumage with brown back. Breast unstreaked. MALE: Bill, black. Lares, white. FEMALE: Bill, grey upper mandible and pale grey lower mandible. Lares, grey. Moult. Adult and sub-adult, from late November/Oecember to March. No primary moult observed in immatures. Breeding. August to Oecember. Observed in breeding condition post drought in 1983. Birds can breed in second year. Both sexes develop brood patches, only females observed with large ones. Ageing. Based on Oisney (1974) and confirmed by our own observations. Sexing. All birds sexable on bill colour, except very young ones. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. NB• Birds fully grown in second year. Male Female ------NO. of Mean S• 0 . No. of Mean S• 0 . Birds Birds ------Adult and Sub-adult 29 133. 1 2 .81 30 129.3 2.78 Wing (mm) 1. THL (mm) 29 53.3 1 .27 29 52.6 34 Tail (mm) 22 106.2 3.67 25 104.3 3.65 Immature Wing (mm) 12 126.6 3.45 5 125.6 2.51 THL (mm) 12 5 1 . 3 1.32 5 52.4 0.92 Tail (mm) 11 104.6 3.78 3 104.0 3.00 Min Max Min Max

Weight(gm) - Adult 29 61 80 30 61 84 - Imm 12 60 73 5 62 73 Notes. (1) Immature measurements approximate onl · Sexes were assigned on measurements to some birds unsexed in Ehe field. ( 2 ) The morning weight of one adult male ranged from 61 gm in August to 67 gm in October. Sites. Arthurs Creek 2 , 0 Mt Piper 22,11 Knowsley 11, 0 Barmah 4 , 0 Yaringa 2, 0 Wail 7, 0 Rotamah Island 4,2 Coranderrk 22, 3 Killawarra 8, 0 Big Billy Bore 9 , 0 st Andrews 2, 0 TOTALS 102,16

Page 61 CRESTED BELLBIRD, Oreoica guttural is Size 5, AM. WP = 8=7=6. No. 419. A beautiful and elusive bird with a powerful bill. Size 5 as recommended by the Banding Scheme is tight on some birds and size 6 gives a better fit. ' Imm (lor 2-). Bill, dark grey brown with slightly paler base to lower mandible. Gape, orange yellow fading to cream. Palate, orange yellow. Eye, brown. Crest and plumage as adult female. Traces of adult male plumage and eye colour may show later in first year. Adult Male (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Bill, black. Gape, black. Palate, black. Eye, variable, bright yellow orange to orange. Black breast band extending up the neck through eye to prominent black crest. Throat and face, white. Head, grey. Back, wings and tail, olive grey brown. Lower breast, grey fading into white abdomen. Flanks and undertail coverts, buff. Adult Female (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Bill, dark grey brown, may have paler base. Gape, grey. Palate, black. Eye, red brown. May erect black crest in the hand. Head and face, grey fading into olive grey brown back and tail. Throat and breast, olive grey brown fading into white abdomen. Small whitish bib on throat. Buff flanks and undertail coverts. Moult. No birds observed in primary moult. One bird observed in tail moult in October. Breeding. Observed in October. Agein9' Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence adults aged 2+ at th,s time. Not known if immatures identifiable in the spring following fledging, hence 1+ for adults in spring. Sexing. Adults on plumage. Some immatures can be sexed on emergent adult plumage and eye colour. Apparently size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Range' No. of Range Birds Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 4 105 110 7 93 105 THL (mm) 4 43.7 45.3 6 41.3 45 .2 Tail (mm) 2 83 96 1 87 Weight (gm) - Unsexed birds 13 58 69 Sites. Bendigo Whipstick 11 ,1 Knowsley 3 , 0 TOTALS 14,1

RUFOUS FANTAIL, Rhipidura rufifrons

Size 1, AV. WP = 6(=7). No. 362. Illustrations suggest that lares vary between black and grey. We have not recorded them and do not know if this is a useful character for ageing or sexing. lam (1). Bill: upper mandible, black; lower mandible, pink (becoming darker with age) with yellow base (becoming paler). Gape, orange yellow. Buff rufous eyebrow and forehead. Rufous rump and back. Rufous fringes to primaries and secondaries. Rufous fringes to secondary coverts. Buff tips to median coverts. Outer tail feathers, tipped buff. Chin and throat, light brown. Narrow buff rufous band between throat and breast. Breast, slightly speckled.

Page 62 'iF

Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Bill! black. Gape, black. Eye, dark brown. Upperparts, brownlsh. Black spots on head. Forehead, rump, and base of tail, bright rufous orange. Rest of tail, black tipped whitish. Throat, white. Broad breast band, solid black at top, black spots at bottom. Rest of underparts, buffish. Moult. No primary moult recorded. One adult caught on migration in March had very worn primaries. Ageing. Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence adults aged 2+ at this time. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+ at other times. B're e d Ln q , November to January. Sexing. Sexes similar. No evidence of size dimorphism. Measurements. Adu it Immature

No. 0 f Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------• Wing (mm) 11 69 76 8 67 75 THL (mm) 7 27.5 28.4 5 27.0 28.3 Tail (mm) 11 81 91 9 76 87 Weight (gm) 11 8.2 10.6 8 8.5 11 .6 Note. The weight of one bird~ caught four times, ranged from 10.0 gm to 10.4 gm in October to 11.1 gm in February. Sites. Mt Piper 1,0 Toolangi 6,0 Coranderrk 11 , 3 st Andrews 3,0 TOTALS 21,3

GREY FANTAIL, Rhipidura fuliginosa

Size 1, AY. WP = 6=7. No. 361. More often seen hovering over and perching on nets than actually in them. Six races in Australia so the bander should know the races in his area. This description is of R. f. alisteri. Imm (lor 2-). Bill; upper mandible, black; lower mandible! oran~e or cream with black tip. Gape, yellowish orange fadlng to pinklsh grey. Palate cream. Eyebrow, brown, changing to white. Buffish tips {owing coverts, alula, and tertia Is - they persist longest on primary coverts and alula. Legs, pale grey. Younger birds show traces of brown juvenile plumage 'in head, breast, and back. Adult (2+). Bill, black with pale base to lower mandible. • Gape, cream. Palate, pale grey. Eyebrow and line on ear :/ coverts, white. Upperparts, grey brown. Wings, grey brown with two small white bars. No buff tips to wing coverts. Tail, grey brown with white outer tail feathers. Throat, white with narrow black band below. Rest of underparts, buff. Legs, dark grey. Moult. AdUlt, post breeding primary moult followed by secondary, tail, and general body mOUlt, January to March. No -i· primary or covert moult in first year. I Breeding. September to January. Only females (on cloaca and measurements) develop brood patches. Ageing. Full adult plumage not acquired until second year, hence adults aged 2+. Age 2- birds can be identified by very worn primaries and buff tips to coverts. ,

Page 63 Sexing. Sexes similar. In breeding condition, most adults can be sexed on cloaca. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. All Males All Females

No. 0 f Mean S .0. No. 0 f Mean S • 0 • Birds Birds

Wlng (mm) 57 75.7 2;32 51 71 .8 2.32 THL (mm) 21 27.9 0.80 32 25.7 0.80 Tail (mm) 49 87.6 2.20 44 82.9 2.40 All Birds Min Max Weight (gm) 123 6.4 10.2 Sexing Criteria. Level Female Male Percent (% ) if Less if More Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed

All birds THL (mm) 95 25.9 27.7 59 .9 a . 6 39 . 5 Tail (mm) 95 82 89 30.8 a . 6 68.7 Sites. Mt Piper 55,5 Barmah 1, a Yaringa 2 , a Coranderrk 53,4 Toolangi 1, a Rotamah Island 8 , a st Andrews 3, a TOTALS 123,9

WILLIE WAGTAIL, Rhipidura leucophrys

Size 3(2), AY. WP = 7(=6). No. 364. Not easily captured. Some adults have white terminal bands to secondary and underwing coverts. The significance of this is unknown; it may enable more precise ageing or sexing. Juv (J). Similar to immature. Wing and tail feathers may not be fUlly grown and still in sheath. Extensive buff brown plumage on crown, back, rump, wing and tail coverts.

Imm t i or 2-). Bill, black. Palate, yellow orange. Gap e, changing from buff cream through pale yellow to grey. Eyebrow, buff/brown. All wing coverts with buff/brown tips. Tertials and under tail coverts, buff/brown. Adult (2+). Bill, black. Palate, grey. Gape, black. Upperparts, black. Thrnat and upper breast, black. Rest of underparts, white. Moult. Complete adult moult, January to April. Immature body moult but no primary moult in flrst year. B'reeding. Usually September to January. Ageing. Immatures can be identified in spring following fledging by very worn primaries; some, possibly all, retain buff fringes to coverts. These birds are aged 2-. Adults are aged 2+ at all times.

Page 64 Sexing. Sexes similar. In September 1983, a pair was caught together. Both were aged as adults and sexed on the shape of the cloaca. The female showed the very distinct white moustachial stripe and throat flecking illustrated for all birds in the field guides. (Only one adult female in the National Museum of Victoria showed these characters.) In all other birds we have caught, these markings are very faint. David McFarland, pers comm, reports that the markin~s are conspicuous throu~hout the year in Queensland, so there IS clearly some geographIcal variation in this character. More work is needed in Victoria to establish the significance, if any, of our observation. Possibly size dimorphic, but insufficient data for analysis. Measurements. No. 0 f Mean S. D. Birds

Adult - Wing (mm) 28 100.3 3.94 - THL (mm) 27 35.5 0.76 - Tail (mm) 12 106.8 4 .84 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 28 17 • 4 23.9 Sites. Mt Piper 1 2 , 1 Knowsley 8,0 Barmah 2,0 Arthurs Creek 1,0 Wail 1,0 Killawarra 2,0 Bendigo Whipstick 17,0 TOTALS 43,1

CHESTNUT QUAIL-THRUSH, Cinclosoma castano tum

Size 5, AM. WP ~ 7(~6). No. 437. Only one bird caught but not a full adult so worth describing. Adult descriptions are from museum specimens and field observations. Immature Male (1). Bill, dull black. Gape, dark grey. Eye, brick red outer with brownish tint to inner. Forehead, grey. Crown and ear coverts, greyish chestnut. Lores, greyish white. Broad white eyebrow and moustache. Nape and mantle, greyish brown. Upper back, mid brown. Scapulars, lower back, and rump feathers, mid brown with chestnut fringes. Upper tail coverts, greyish brown. Chin, throat, and upper breast, grey with black feathers emerging (more towards chin). Lower breast and a b d ome n , white. Flanks, pale chestnut. Undertail coverts very long (78 mm); feathers have black shafts, white centres surrounded by grey brown except at tips. Underwing flight feathers, pale grey. Greater underwing coverts, dark grey. Lesser underwing coverts, white. Upperwing: lesser and median coverts dark brown with white tips. Primary coverts, black with white tips. Tertials, dark brown tinged buff with pale chestnut tinge on inner web. Primaries and secondaries, dark grey with very thin white fringes. Very thin white outer edges on primaries 5 through 8. Tail, 12 feathers; middle four,grey brown; remainder black with broad white tips. Feet and legs, dark grey with light grey soles. Immature Female (1). Not observed. Adult Male (1+). Bill, black. Eye, red to red brown. Head and upper back, grey brown. Lores, black. Broad white eyebrow and moustache. Scapulars, lower back and rump, chestnut. Uppertail coverts, grey brown. Chin, throat and upper breast, black. Lower breast and abdomen, white with black spots fringing sides. Flanks, grey buff. Undertail coverts, black and white. Lesser, median and primary coverts, black with white tips. Tail, black with conspicuous white tips to feathers. Legs, grey.

Page 65 ._--, Adult Female (1+). Bill, dark grey. Eye, brown to red. Head, greyer than male. Back has less chestnut than male. Chin, throat, upper breast and flanks, grey. Undertail coverts, white and brown. Moult and Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Immature desc~ibed above was aged on the large amount of juvenile plumage remaining. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Adults and at least some immatures on plumage. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. On one bird only. Immature Male - Wing (mm) 104 - THL (mm ) 49.3 - Tail (mm) 100 Weight (gm) 76 Site. Big Billy Bore 1,0

WHITE-BROWEO BABBLER, Pomatostomus superciliosus

Size 5, AM. WP = 6(=5,=7). No. 445. A delightfully noisy and idiotic clown; catch one and the rest of the colony throws itself into the net. Prone to explosive kicking struggles which often leave the bander empty handed. Birds may become badly "tongued" in mist nets. Juv (J). Similar to immature but markedly smaller. Bill; short and only slightly decurved. Wing and tail feathers may not be fully grown and still in sheath. Imm (lor 2-). Bill, as adult. Gape, pale pink buff. Palate, orange yellow. Plumage, as adult. Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Bill, blackish grey with pale base to lower mandible. Gape, grey. Underside of upper mandible, grey. Palate pink. Long white stripe over eye extending from forehead to nape. Upperparts, mid brown grey. Rump, darker grey brown. Chin, throat and breast, white. Rest of underparts, grey. Large dark grey brown fanned tail with white terminal band, which is broader on outer tail feathers. Moult. Adult primary moult December to March. In adults, tail feathers may moult simultaneously. Some immatures undergo at least a partial moult of primaries in their first autumn. Breeding. Usually September to December. Birds observed breeding post drought in 1983. Only females (sexed on cloaca) observed with fully developed brood patches. Ageing. Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence age 2+ for adults at this time. Some immatures can be aged on wing feather wear in their first spring when aged 2-. All other birds aged 1+ in spring until better information is available. Possibility of simultaneous moult of adult tail feathers makes synchronous growth bars useless as an ageing character. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger.

Page 66 Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Mean S. D. No. of Mean S • D. Birds Birds ------Wing (mm) 44 82.6 2.81 34 80.9 2.81 THL (mm) 44 48.9 1.57 34 46.0 1.47 Tail (mm) 22 86.3 2.29 16 83.1 2.29

Min Max Both Sexes Weight (gm) 31 3 5 . 1 46.0 Sexing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent UO if Less if More ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult THL (mm) 95 46.4 49.6 63. 1 D. 6 36. 3 Sites. Knowsley 14,6 Big Billy Bore 8, 0 Wail 7, 1 Killawarra 3 , 0 Bendigo Whipstick 71,53 TOTALS 1D3,60

CLAMOROUS REED-WARBLER, Acrocephalus stentoreus

Size 3(2), AV. WP = 7=8=9. No. 524. We have found that band size 2 gives the best fit in Victoria. Best told from Great Reed Warbler (A. arundinaceus) by wing shape. On the closed wing, in the Clamorous, the length of primary 9 is between that of primaries 5 and 6. In the Great Reed, primary 9 is longer than primary 7 (Williamson 1968). Where these birds migrate to is a mystery, as is how they get there. They leave their breeding sites wlth very abraded wings. Imm (lor 2-). Similar to adult except for soft parts. Bill, dull black with whitish base to lower mandible. Palate, pale yellow. Gape, conspicuous and creamy white changing to yellow. Adult (2+). Bill, black with pinkish-cream base to lower mandible. Palate, orange sometimes with pinkish tinge. Gape, conspicuous and pinkish orange. Upperparts, olive brown. Head, wings and tail, darker brown. Eyebrow, faint buff. Underparts, buff white. Moult. As a rule, adults moult body feathers only in southern Australia in summer. ArrivinQ spring adults have relatively fresh but slightly worn primarles. Departing autumn adults have very worn primaries. One bird was observed in primary moult in February 1981; primary 4 less than a third grown, primaries 1 through 3 in pin (irregular sequence). This is consistent with Williamson (1968) who records rapid primary moult on arrival in wintering grounds. Tail feathers can moult simultaneously. Breeding. Observed Dctober to early February. Only females develop brood patches. Banded nestlings observed breeding 12 months later (Dick and Molly Brown, pers comm). Agein9' Immatures can be identified in spring following fledglng by very worn primaries, hence adults aged 2+. Synchronous growth bars have been observed in several re-traps known to be over a year old, indicating simultaneous moult of tail feathers in some birds. This character cannot therefore be used for ageing. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, females larger. Sex able on cloaca and brood patch in breeding condition.

Page 67 ------

Measurements. Western Austrelian birds are larger thin those in the east (steve Keeling, Dick and Molly Brown, pers comm). From birds of known sex, the Browns give wing length ranges of: 70 to 77 mm for males; 74 to 83 mm for females. The measurements below, and the sexing criteria that follow, are for Victorian birds. Male Female ------No. of Me an S .0. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds ------Adult Wing (mm) 81 7 1 . 1 1 .38 65 75.0 1. 38 THL (mm) 63 37.3 0.83 63 38.3 0.83 Immature Wing (mm) 27 69 . 3 1 .42 3D 73.2 1 .50 THL (mm) 26 36.0 0, 31 29 38.1 o . 31 Both Sexes - Weight (gm) Min Max

Adu lt 146 1 5 • 0 22.0 Immature 53 11 .9 20.0 Sexing Criteria. Level Male Female Percent ( %) if Less if More ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult Wing (mm) 95 71 75 48.6 o. 2 5 1 . 2 Imm Wing (mm) 95 69 73 48.4 o. 4 5 1 . 2 Sites. Coranderrk 3 6 , 1 1 Seaford Swamp 175,0 TOTALS 211,13 NB. Data on birds caught at Seaford Swamp provided by Berrice Dale.

RUFOUS SONGLARK, Cinclorhamphus mathewsi

Size; 4 Males, 3 Females, AY. WP = 8(=7). No. 509. A regular Houdini bird; two of our first three caught escaped bag and hand without a band. We didn't catch another for two years. We do not know if juveniles or young immatures can be sexed; we have not caught one. Unless they can, they should not be banded due to the extreme sex size dimorphism. Imm (lor 2-). Eye, brown. Gape! cream. Plumage as adult. MALE: Bill, black (possibly occaslonally as female). FEMALE: Upper mandible, brown; lower mandible, pale brown with white base. (NB Description based on immatures caught in the year following fledging.) Sub-Adult (2- or 2). Plumage as adult. See Ageing. Adult Male (3+ spring, 2+ autumn). Bill, usually black, occasionally as female (see below). Gape and palate, black. Eye, olive brown. Eyebrow, pale buff. Upperparts, mid to dark brown with paler streaks. Rump and upper tail coverts, rufous. Teil, dark brown. Throat, dull white with dark brown spots on lower throat.

Page 68 -,-.----­ I I

Adult Female (3+ spring, 2+ autumn). Bill; upper mandible, brownish with dark grey base; lower mandible, cream/grey. Palate, mid grey. Gape, white. Plumage, similar to, but duller than, male. Dark spots on throat slight or absent. Moult. Adult primary, tail and body (slight) moult, observed January and March. Immatures observed in body moult, with some moulting tertials and secondary coverts in spring following fledging. Breeding. Observed October and November. Only females recorded with brood patches. Ageing. Identification of previous years birds possible at least into January by very worn primaries and synchronous growth bars in the tail, hence 2- or 2 for these birds and 3+ for adults in spring. Unknown if sub-adults distinguishable from adults in autumn. We have identified no plumage or soft part differences which would assist identification of "young" immatures. Sexing. Adults, on plumage. Birds with completely black bills will be males. Sexes apparently completely separable on all measurements. Late immatures can be sexed on adult characters. We have caught only one adult male outside the breeding season; this had a pale brown upper mandible and an ivory lower mandible, possibly an eclipse condition. Measurements. All Males All Females ------No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max -_._------Wing (mm) 8 92 100 6 75 84 THL (mm) 8 37.3 39.5 6 34.7 3 6 . 1 Tail (mm) 7 76 84 6 64 73 Weight ( g m) 8 31.0 38.6 6 20.7 24.6 Sites. Mt Piper 2.0 Killawarra 12,0 TOTALS 14,0

SUPERB FAIRY-WREN, Malurus cyaneus

Size 1, AV. No. 529. Possible identification problems between Superb Fairy-wren and Variegated Fairy-wren (M. lambertii) females. Variegated has longer bluer cathedral tail (central feathers much longer than outers).l Female Variegated has larger, darker and more clearly delineated eye patch than Superb. The tail of the Variegated is tipped white at all ages. Juv (J). Gape, pale yellow. Bird, small and brown. Chestnut round eye. Tail, not fully grown. Imm (1). Plumage, as adult female but with brown tail. At first, sexes indistinguishable. In autumn to late winter, males gradually develop a dark bill (starting from the tip) and blue tai i , Adult Breeding Plumage Male (2+ winter, 1+ spring). Bill, black. Glossy blue black throat, chest, lores/ nape and back, sometimes with a purplish tinge. Crown, mantle, ear coverts, and upper back bright sky blue. Tail, blue. Underparts, grey white. Most, but not all, have dark blue in wing coverts. Adult Eclipse Plumage Male (2+). Bill, black. Tail, blue. No eye patch. A small number retain dark blue in wing coverts. Otherwise as adult female.

Page 69 ------_.~------

Adult female (1+). Bill, red brown. Eye patch, chestnut. Plumage, plaIn mouse brown. Throat, whitish. Underparts, grey white. Greenish lights to tail (easier to pick out in the field than in the hand). Moult. There is a moult of immature and eclipse male body feathers in spring into breeding plumage. Adults and some immatures (if not all) moult tail and primaries between end of January and May. Breeding. Usually early September to end of January. MALE: Very enlarged bUlge behind cloaca ("a huge, tubule-filled seminal vesicle used for storing and maturing sperm", Schodde and Weatherley, 1982) and bareish brood patch aTea. Birds that retain breeding plumage all year lose the bulge after the breeding season. This may not. apply In other parts of AustralIa. FEMALE: Very large brood patches. Some birds aged as immatures observed with brood patches. Birds found in breeding condition (one female north of the Great Dividing Range with egg) in April and May following the breaking of the 1983 drought. AgeinQ' Assigned ages based on re-trap data. Ageing in pTinclple easy, but in practise easy to make a mistake. Sometimes difficult to pick out colour of tailor growth bars in brown bIrds to separate adult females from immatures. Juveniles not distinguishable from immatures after about 2 months. Rowley (1975) reports that birds which retain breeding plumage throughout the year are in their fourth year or older. The possibility exists, however, that a younger bird may take over after death of the dominant male. Males in breeding plumage in winter should conservatively be aged as 2+ and an appropriate note made to indicate this. Eclipse plumage males are aged 2+ as immatures can always be identified until they acquire breeding plumage for the first time. The significance of the retention of blue in the coverts of some eclipse males is unknown; it may assist more accurate ageing. Sexing. Adults and later immatures on plumage and soft parts. No evidence of size dimorphism. Measurements.

No. 0 f Mean S .0. Birds

Adult - Wing (mm) 116 51.9 1.42 - THL (mm) 55 28.8 0.49 - Tail (mm) 105 62.7 3.66 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 513 7 .7 1 1 . 6 Note. The weight of ane adult male, caught seven times, ranged between 9.1 gm in the morning and 10.6 gm in the evening. Sites. Mt Piper 38, 23 Barmah 24,0 Knowsley 11,11 Wail 13, 1 Varinga 4,0 Coranderrk 232,149 Dandenong 8, 0 Rotamah Island 7 , 0 st Andrews 2, 0 TOTALS 339,188

VARIEGATED fAIRY-IREN, Malurus lamberti

Size 1, AV. WP = 6=5. No. 536. Possible identification problems between female Variegated and Superb Fairy-wren (M. cyaneus). See Superb for differences. This description is of M. 1. assimilis.

Page 70 ,.---­ I I

Imm (1). A male, caught in June, was aged as an immature on chestnut buff tips to tertials and wing coverts. A full description was not taken. Breeding Plumage Male (1+). Bill, black. Gape, grey black. Palate, grey. Mid blue forehead, crown and mantle. Ear coverts, sky blue. Throat, lares and nape, glossy black. Back and upper flanks, royal blue separated by chestnut shoulder stripe. Rump, blue black. Tail, royal blue tipped white. Eclipse Plumage Male (2+). Bill, black. Gape, grey black. Palate, grey. Lares, grey black. No eye patch. Upperparts, grey brown. Underparts, cream. Tail, royal blue tipped white. Adult Female (1+). Bill, red brown. Gape, brown. Palate, grey. Lares and eye patch, rich chestnut brown. Tail, grey tinged blue tipped white. Moult. Adult primary moult observed in February and March. Adult tail and body-moult observed in September, March and April. Breeding. September to February. Only females observed with large brood patches. Male cloacal development not as prominent as in Superb. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence age 1+ for adults. Eclipse plumage males will always be aged 2+. Sexing. Adults on plumage and soft parts. Measurements. No. of Range Birds ------Min Max ------Adult - Wing (mm) 25 45 53 - Tail (mm) 7 70 82 - Weight (gm) 28 6.7 11 .4 Sites. 8endigo Whipstick 27 ,4 Wail 4,0 Big Billy Bore 1 , 0 TOTALS 32,0

WHITE-BROWEO SCRUBWREN, Sericornis frontalis

Size 2, AV. WP = 5 (=6). No. 488 This description applies to birds caught in south central Victoria. The species shows considerable geographical variation in plumage and size, even over relatively short distances. Scrub-wrens at Rotamah Island, for example, are much paler and cannot easily be sexed on the colour of the lares. Birds in New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia are again different. Imm (1). Bill, dark grey. Gape, pale brown. Eye, dull grey rapidly changing to cream. Lares dull grey-brown. Inconspicuous pale grey eyebrow and moustachial stripe. In very young birds (less than four months), the shoulder flash is indistinct or absent and the wing coverts have buff tips. In older birds these are retained in the greater coverts. Feet and legs, pink. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Gape, grey black. Eye, cream. Oistinct white shoulder flash. No buff tips to coverts. Feet and legs, pinkish grey. MALES: Oark grey to black lares. White eyebrow and moustachial stripe very prominent. FEMALES: Medium to dark ~rey lares. Less distinct white eyebrow and moustachial strIpe. Moult. Adults, complete moult Oecember to March. Immature moult not observed.

Page 71 Ageing. Immatures acquire full adult plumage by six to nine months of age (re-trap data), hence assigned age codes. Breeding. September to January. Only females develop brood patches. Apparently opportunistic breeders in drier areas of their range in Western Australia (Stephen Ambrose, pers comm). Sexing. On plumage in some areas. Females identifiable by brood patch in breeding condition. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. All of adult birds. Males Females

No. 0 f Mean S. o. No. 0 f Mean S . 0 • Birds Birds

Victoria - Wing (mm) 30 58.7 2.65 40 56 .0 2.32 - THL (mm) 24 34. 1 0.97 37 3 3 • 1 0.75 - Tail (mm) 29 50.6 2 .78 36 47.8 2.39 Min Max Min Max

- Weight (gm) 30 13.1 14.4 40 1 1 . 1 16.5 Shark Bay, Western Australia - Wing (mm) 42 52.4 3 . 0 40 50.8 3.6 - THL (mm) 66 32.0 2 • 0 60 3 1 • 6 1.6 - Tail (mm) 70 48.6 5 . 2 62 46.7 4.7 Eyre, Western Australia - Wing (mm) 148 53.8 3.4 132 5 1 • 0 2 • l, - THL (mm) 155 32.1 1 .2 142 31.4 1 .0 - Tail (mm) 116 49.8 4 • 0 113 47.2 4 . 4 Rockingham, Western Australia - Wing (mm) 63 54.4 3 . 4 81 49.2 7 • 0 - THL (mm) 78 32.0 1 .7 84 31.5 1.7 - Tail (mm) 82 48.1 5 • 4 88 47.2 9.4 Notes. (1) The weight of an adult male, retrapped four times, varied between 14.1 gm in the morning and 15.2 gm in the evening. (2) Data on Western Australian birds was provided by Stephen Ambrose. Sites. Toolangi 18, 6 Barmah 3,0 Yaringa 5, 0 Mt Piper 1, 0 Werribee 1 , 0 Coranderrk 70,49 Dandenong 1, 0 Rotamah Island 1 4 , 4 St Andrews 11, 1 TOTALS 124,60

SHY HYLACOLA, Sericornis cautus

Size 2, AY. WP = No. 499. Nets must be set low to catch this bird, making netted birds liable to ant attack; frequent net inspections are necessary. Juv (J). Bill; upper mandible! dark grey; lower mandible, pale grey. Gape, grey. Palate, pInk grey. Plumage, buff feathers over most of body. Imm (1). Similar to adult but with buff rufous streaking on throat. Soft parts unrecorded.

Page 72 Adult (i+). Biii, duli grey black. Gape, grey. Palate, grey. Eyebrow, white. Crown, grey. Back, olive brown. Rump, rufous brown fading into dark brown/black tail with white sub-terminai band. Throat and breast, white with dark grey streaks. Abdomen, white. MALE: Very sharp bright facial plumage with strong contrast between the white breast and dark breast streaks. FEMALE: Generally duller than male. Eyebrow, facial plumage and breast streaks are not as bright. The throat and breast have a distinctive buff wash which.may extend to the face. Moult. Adult primary moult observed in December and February. No immature primary moult observed. May moult tail feathers almost simultaneously. Breeding. Normally August to December/eariy January. Both sexes develop brood patches, only females observed with large ones. Birds observed in breeding condition post-drought in i983. Ageing. No information. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged i+. Synchronous growth bars in tail not nacessarily a good ageing character. Sexing. Sexing of most adults possible on plumage for those familiar with the species. Birds are sexable on cloaca in breeding condition. Some birds have a white spot in each alula feather - the significance of this is not known but it could be a male sex character. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Mean S• D. Birds

Adult - Wing (mm) 30 58. i i .97 - THL (mm) 24 35 • 4 D .71 - Tail (mm) 11 58.8 1 .66 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 29 13.4 1 6 . 8 Sites. Bendigo Whipstick 33, i 9 Knowsley i ,0 TOTALS 34, i9

SPECKLED WARBLER, Sericornis sagittatus

Size 1, AY. WP = 6(=7,=5). No. 504. A iittie treat. A reguiar visitor to mist nets but unfortunately few young birds caught. JUY (J). Eyebrow indistinct. Crown and nape, dark brown with iighter brown streaks (slightiy darker than adult). Mantle, similar to, but darker than, crown. Back, olive green with brownish tinge (close to the shafts, the feathers are brown). Rump, pale green. Upper tail coverts, iemon. Tail feathers, nearly black in centre with olive green outer edge and lemon buff tips. Primaries and secondaries, brown inner web, lemon coloured at base with greenish outer edges. Wing coverts are uniform olive green. Throat and breast feathers, white with brown tips giving a smudged streaky appearance. Abdomen, off-white. Flanks, lemon buff. (NB. This description was taken from a museum specImen, hence soft parts undescribed.) Imm r i i , Bill, medium grey with pale base. Gape, cream. Feathers round eye, buff. Eyebrow, indefinite. General appearance, as adult.

Page 73 Adult (i+). Bill, dark grey. Gape, grey. Upperparts brown with dark brown to black streaks. Taii, base brown, rest black with whitish tips. Underparts, buff, yellowish wash on abdomen - ail with bold black streaks. MALE: Eyebrow, black. FEMALE: Eyebrow, chestnut. Moult. Adults undergo. complete moult, including primaries, from November to March. Breeding. Early August to December. Both sexes develop large brood patches. Ageing. Timing of acquisition of adult plumage unknown, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Adults on piumage. Size dimorphic, males larger. Not known if immatures can be sexed on plumage. Sexing of some immatures on size may be possible but iarger sample needed to deveiop criterion. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Mean S. D. No. 0 f Mean S. D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 12 63 • 1 2 • D2 i4 6 0 . i i .79 THL (mm) 7 29 • 5 D.5i 9 28.4 0.42 Tail (mm) i i 49.8 2. i4 9 46.9 i .90 Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) i2 i z .5 i4.9 14 i z .0 i3 .9 Note. The weight of an adult male! caught six times, ranged from i3.2 gm in the morning to i4.9 gm ln the evening. Sites. Mt Piper 26,32 Wail I , 0 TOTALS 27,32

IEEBILL, Smicrornis brevirostris

Size i , AV. WP = 6. No. 465. DeliQhtful birds in the hand - they sing. Seven races reported. The lntensity of the brown marks in front of and behind the eye varies in birds caught at the same site at the same time. This may be a sexing or ageing character or something to do with the different races. 111m ( i ». Eye, lime green. Plumage similar to adults but throat streaking absent. Adult (i+). Bill, horn. Eye, whitish. Slight creamy buff eyebrow. Ear coverts, streaked. Upperparts, olive. Underparts, yellowish, throat and upper breast with slight dark streaks. Tail, brownish with broad blackish band and a white tip. . Moult. Aduit primary moult January to late April/early May. Ageing. Timing of acquisition Of adult plumage unknown, so adults aged i+. Breeding. September to December. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic.

Page 74 r1 Measurements. No. 0 f Mean S . 0 • Birds Aii birds - Wing (mm) 31 51.6 1. 7 B - THL (mm) 6 2i.7 o . 5 0 - Taii (mm) 22 37. B 1 .53 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 46 5.3 6.9 Sites. Mt Piper 1 8 , 8 Big Biiiy Bore i 3 , 0 TOTALS 31,8

WESTERN GERYGONE, Gerygone fusca

Size 1, AY. WP ~ 6~7. No. 463 This bird does not take kindly to being captured, kept, and handled. It shouid always be processed expeditiousiy. This warning is the only reason for inciuding the species. We have recorded nothing which will assist ageing and sexing.

1m .. (1). Not observed. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Eye, red. Indistinct partial white eyebrow and eye rin~. Upperparts and head, dull grey washed faintly olive. Fllght feathers and tail, dark grey brown. Tail, dark grey brown with broad white band. Underparts, off white. Moult. Adult in primary moult mid-February. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds ------Min Max ------Adu it - Wing (mm) 5 55 61 - THL (mm) 2 25.2 26.0 - Tail (mm) 3 40 45 - Weight ( g m) 5 6 . 0 6.9 Sites. Mt Piper 4,0 Knowsley 1,0 TOTALS 5,0

BROWN THORNBILL, Acanthiza pusilla

Size i , AY. No. 475. Brown Thornbills in the hand are usually lively and full of character, often singing a sub-song including muted imitations of many species (saying help in every language they know). But note, however, that thIs species is highly vulnerable to shock during capture, keeping, and handling, especially in cold weather and at dawn before they have fed. With frequent net checking, handling by experienced banders only, and immediate processing, there is sufficient retrap evidence to suggest that birds recover quickly from the experience. Badly tangled birds are better cut out of nets than subjected to unnecessary handling.

Page 75 •

Where ranges overlap, this species can hybridise with Inland Thornblll (A. apicalis) making species identification difficult. Brown Thornbill has rufous forehead with pale crescents and outer tail feathers tipped brown. Inland has grey brown forehead with whitish scalloping and outer tail feathers that are conspicuously tipped white. Imm (1). Bill, blackish grey with yellowish base to lower mandible. Gape, yellow fading to cream. Palate, yellow. Eye, muddy brown. Scalloping on forehead, absent to faint. May have downy juvenile feathers in back. Brownish fringes to coverts. Throat, streaked. Breast, clear buff with faint streaks. Adult (1+). Bill, black with pale cream base to lower mandible. Palate, black. Gape, black. Eye, red or reddy brown. Bold scalloping on forehead. Olive fringes to coverts. Breast, streaked. Moult. AdUlts, complete moult, late November to late February/early March. Immature moult not observed. Breeding. September to Oecember. Only females (sexed on cloaca) develop brood patches. Some immatures develop large vascularised brood patches. Ageing. Immatures indistinguishable from adults after 4 to 5 months (re-trap data), hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. No evidence of size dimorphism. Sex able on cloaca and presence/absence of brood patch in breeding condition. Measurements. No. of Mean S .0. Birds

All birds - Wing (mm) 92 51 .0 2.05 - THL (mm) 54 26.3 0.78 - Tail 148 44.8 2.42 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 330 5.4 8.0 Note. The weight of one bird, caught four times, ranged from 6.4 gm to 6.8 gm. Sites. Mt Piper 65,12 Toolangi 1 1 , 5 Yaringa 7 , 0 Coranderrk 157,52 Oandenong 1 , 0 Rotamah Island 18,4 st Andrews 5 1 ,31 TOTALS 310,104

INLAND THORNBILL, Acanthiza apicalis

Size 1, AY. WP = 6. No. 476. Very few birds aged as immatures. Results below should be treated as tentative. Can hybridise with Brown Thornbill (A. pusilla). See Brown Thornbill for differences. Imm (1). Eye, brown, may have red brown inner ring. Buff scalloping on forehead. Upperparts, brown grey. Striated throat. Adult (1+). Eye, red brown. Forehead, grey brown with whitish scalloping. Upperparts, pale olive brown, with red brown rump. Tail, brown with broad black band tipped white. Underparts, buffish with streaked throat and breast. Moult. Adult primary moult, January to March; body moult completed later. One bird observed in March with completed partial moult of outer primaries.

Page 76 r ,1

Breeding. Observed in August and October. Only females (on j cloaca) develop brood patches. Ageing. Unknown when immatures acquire adult plumage, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Apparently sexable on cloaca in breeding condition. Measurements.

No. 0 f Mean S•D• Birds

All birds - Wing (mm) 51 52.5 2.07 - Tail (mm) 27 47.0 2.06 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 33 6 . 0 8.6 Sites. Big Billy Bore 1 8 , 0 Bendigo Whipstick 34,30 TOTALS 52,30

TASMANIAN THORNBILL, Acanthiza ewingii

Size I, AV. WP = 6(=5,=7). No. 473. An endemic Tasmanian bird occurring mostly in wet forests. It can be distinguished from the Brown Thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla, by the presence of a few pure white under tail coverts (all buff in Brown Thornbill). If both species can be compared, the Tasmanian Thornbill has a more finely mottled breast, less defined scalloping on the forehead, and a slightly finer bill. JUY (J). Bill, pale brown with yellowish underside to lower mandible. Gape and palate, pale yellow. Breast, grey faintly mottled darker. Otherwise as adult. Imm (1). No characters allowing identification of immatures have been found. Adult (1+). Bill, brown with paler underside to lower mandible. Gape, brown. Palate, black. Forehead, rufous brown with ill-defined scalloping. Upperparts, greyish brown. Rump, rufous brown. Underparts, off-white with indistinct darker mottling on throat and upper breast. Undertail coverts, whitish. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. September to December. Ageing. Inability to identify immatures requires all non-juvenile birds to be aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. NB• From museum specimens.

No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) 6 50 55 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green.

Page 77 ------

BUFF-RUMPED THDRNBILL, Acanthiza reguloides

Size i , AV. WP 7(=6) • No. 481,. Imm (1). Bill, brown with slightly pale base. Eye, pale lime green. Brown frInges to greater coverts. May show some whIte in rump. Adult (i+). Biii, grey. Eye, buffy to white. Forehead, brown with light brown scalloping. Face feathers tipped white. Upperparts, olive brown. Rump, buff. Buff Fringes to greater coverts. Dark brown tail with pale brown tip. Underparts, buff yellow with slight streaking on throat. Moult. Adults, complete moult December to March. Breeding. September to early January. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. No evidence of size dimorphism. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) 22 5 i 57 - THL (mm) 6 25.3 26.9 - Tail (mm) 13 38 42 - Weight (gm) 45 7 . 1 9.3 Site. Mt Piper 33 , 16

VELLOW-RUMPEO THORNBILL, Acanthiza chrysorrhoa

Size 1, AV. NO. 486. Difficult to age and sex, like ail the thornbills. 101m (1). Not observed. Adult (1+). Eye: take your pick, we have nine different colours suggesting usually greyish eyes. Eyebrow, white. Forehead, black spotted white. Crown, light brown. Upperparts, greenish. Underparts, whitish washed yellow. Rump, bright yellow. Tail, black tipped white. Moult. Adult primary moult, December to March. Breeding. Starts August. Only females (sexed on cloaca) observed with brood patches. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+. Of 32 birds caught, none was clearly identifiable as an immature. Possibly immatures have brown, rather than greyish, eyes. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Apparently sexable on cloaca and brood patch in breeding condition. Variation in the brightness and extent of forehead spots noted but not explained.

Page 78 Measurements. I No. of Mean S . 0 . Birds -----"~

Adu It - Wing (mm) 3D 58.7 1 .55 THL (mm) 8 27.6 0.54 - Tail ( mm) 18 39.6 1. 33 Min Max

- Weight(gm) 56 8 . 2 9.9 Note. The weight of one bird, caught four times, ranged from 9 . 0 gm to 9.6 g m. Site. Mt Pip e r 35,22

YELLOW THORNBILL, Acanthiza nana

Size 1, AV. WP = 7(=6). No. 471. Less to offer than on most thornbills, ie almost nothing. Imm (1). Not observed. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Eye colours recorded range from olive green through grey to brown. Crown, brown. Ear coverts, streaked. Upperparts, dull olive green. Underparts, yellow with orange wash on throat. Tail, brown with black sUb-terminal band and light tip. Moult. Primary, tail, and body moult observed in March. Breeding. Observed in breeding condition September to January. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+. Variations in eye colour may enable some birds to be aged. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Measurements.

No. 0 f Mean S . 0 . Birds

All birds - Wing (mm) 18 50.9 2.22 - Tail (mm) 13 39.3 1 . 18 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 21 5.9 7 . 2 Sites. Mt Piper 19 , 1 Wail 2 ,0 TOTALS 2 1 , 1

STRIATED THORNBILL, Acanthiza lineata

Size 1, AV. WP = 6(=7,=5). No. 470. A lesson in humility. With over 200 birds caught, we have almost nothing to offer. Imm (1). Bill; black, with pale base to lower mandible. Gape, buff/yellow. Eye, brown or grey (but see Ageing).

Page 79 Adult (1+). Bill, black, slight pale base retained In some bIrds. Gape, grey. Eye, olive (but see Ageing). Upperparts, dull olive. Crown, brown streaked white. Face and ear coverts, white edged black. Tail, brown with black sub-terminal band. Chin, throat and upper breast, cream streaked black. Rest of underparts, white tinged yellow. Moult. Adults usually undergo complete moult from January to March. One bird, aged as adult, was observed in primary moult in late November. Breeding. Usually, September to January. Only females (sexed on cloaca) develop brood patches. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Eye colour seems an obvious clue, but since we have recorded some 15 different colours, we are not in a good position to advise. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Sexable on cloaca and presence or absence of brood patch in breeding condition. Measurements. No. of Mean S .0. Birds ------All birds - Wing (mm) 140 53.3 1. 71j - THL ( mm) 28 25.2 0.42 - Tail ( mm) 76 40.2 1 .89 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 203 6 . 2 8.4 Note. the weight of one bird, caught five times ranged from 6.4 to 7.4 gm. Sites. Wa 11 3, 0 Mt Piper 76,43 Coranderrk 57,6 Barmah 1, 0 Yaringa 8, 0 Rotamah Island 2,0 st Andrews 49 ,15 TOTALS 196,67

WHITE-THROATED TREECREEPER, Climacteris leucophaea

Size 3, AY. WP ~ 7. No. 558. Very susceptible to feather loss with careless handling. Even with extra care, they can lose lots. Ageing and sexing characters well described by Noske (1982) for New South Wales birds. Our data confirm his results. Imm (lor 2-). Biil, dull black with white base and underside to lower mandible. Palate, yellowish. Gape, yellow. MALE: spot on ear coverts, buff rufous. Rump, usually grey, sometimes with a few chestnut feathers. fEMALE: spot on ear coverts, chestnut. Rump and lower back, usually uniform chestnut. Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Bill, black with pale base to lower mandible. Eye, dark brown. Dark olive brown upperparts. Rump and tail, brown grey with broad black sub-terminal tail band on all but two central feathers. Throat and upper breast, white. Rest of underparts, streaked buff yellow brown. Undertail coverts, barred brown and white. MALE: No spot on ear coverts. fEMALE: Chestnut spot on ear coverts. Moult. Adults, complete moult late November to April. Immatures moult body feathers in first year. Breeding. September to February. Only females develop large brood patches. Older immatures observed in breeding condition.

Page 80 TI Ageing. Some, but not all, immature females retain chestnut 1 feathers in rump at least into their second year, hence assigned • ages (re-trap data). Birds should not be aged as immatures solely on the basis of rump colour; thIs can be retained for a considerable time. Noske (1982) reports that at least one bird, known to be in its fourth year, still had some chestnut feathers in the rump. Sexing. Adults and immatures sexable on plumage. Size dimorphic, males larger. Note that all immatures have a cheek patch, paler in males. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Mean S • 0 • No. of Mean S .0. Birds Birds

Wollomombi, NSW Wing (mm) 11 91.6 1 .43 9 88.8 1.53 Tail (mm) 10 64.0 2 .25 7 61.9 3.28 Weight (gm) 29 22.5 1. 29 25 21.5 1 .35 Victoria Wing (mm) 21 91 . 3 2.08 13 88.0 1. 47 THL (mm) 22 37.6 0.68 13 37.3 0.48 Tail (mm) 19 66.1 2.53 9 63.9 1.27 Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) 49 20.9 24.4 31 1 9 . 4 24.1 Notes. (1) The weight of an adult male, caught seven times (once in moult) between 0700 and 1300 hours, ranged from 21.6 to only 21.9 gm. The weight of an adult female, caught five times, ranged from 21.7 to 22.8 gm. (2) NSW data provided by Richard Noske. Sites. Mt Piper 15,30 Knowsley 3,1 Barmah 4,0 Coranderrk 2 1 ,11 Killawarra 1,0 st Andrews 6,0 TOTALS 50,52

RED-ORO lEO TREECREEPER, Climacteris erythrops

Size 3, AY. WP = 7. No. 560. Juv (J). Bill, cream with slate grey along top of culmen and tip of mandible. Gape, cream. Brow, mid-grey (not red). Plain brownish grey underparts, often with some whitish streaks. MALE: Upper breast, ~reyish, unstreaked. fEMALE: Upper breast, grey with reddlsh streaks. (Noske 1984) Imm (1). Bill, black with paler base to lower mandible, and pale grey edges. Palate yellow. Gape, cream-yellow. Eye dark brown. Eyebrow grey, traces of red appear in the bird's first year. Back, brown. Lesser coverts, dark brown with pale brown fringes. Rump, grey. Lower breast and abdomen, becoming streaked. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Eye, dark brown. Eyebrow, rusty red. Upperparts, dull brown. Crown, nape, rump, and upper tail coverts, grey. Buff wing bar. Broad black band across tail. Throat, white. Lower breast and abdomen, grey strongly streaked dark brown and white. Feet and legs, black. MALE: Upper breast, greyish, unstreaked. fEMALE: Upper breast, grey streaked reddish chestnut. Moult. Only body moult in immatures observed in March.

Page 81 Breeding. At least early September to December. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged I •. Sexing. Juveniles and adults, on plumage. Of three immatures caught, two had reddish throat streaks and one we didn't describe. We do not therefore know if immatures are sexable on plumage. Not size dimorphic (Noske, pers comm). Measurements. Victoria Adult Male Adult Female No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------BIrds Min Max Min Max

Wing (mm) 3 88 2 86 87 THL (mm) 3 37. 9 39.7 2 37.8 38.3 Tall (mm) 3 65 76 2 68 73 Weight (gm) 4 23 • 2 25.7 4 2 3 • 1 26.6 Wollomombi, NSW Mean S .0. Mean S .0.

Wing (mm) 11 86.3 1.43 8 85.4 0.45 Weight (gm) 26 22.8 1 . 17 15 22.8 1 .82 Notes. (1) The weight of an adult male caught three times ranged from 23.2 gm to 23.4 gm. . (2) NSW data provided by Richard Noske. Sites. Coranderrk 6,3 st Andrews 1 ,0 TOTALS 7,3

BROWN TREECREEPER, Climacteris picumnus

Size 4(5)3, AY. No. 555. As with all treecreepers, careful handling is required to minimize feather loss. We have found that size 4 bands give the best fit in Victoria. Band size 3 required north of Townsville.

101m (1 or 2-). Bill; upper mandible, dark grey; lower mandible, cream. Palate, orange yellowish. Gape, pale cream. Eyestripe, buffish. Head, pale grey. Streaking in upper breast, inconspicuous or absent (Noske (1984) reports black spotted white bib in juvenile males; we have not noticed traces of this character in immatures). Lower breast and abdomen, white streaked brown. Rufous in flanks and undertail coverts. Adult (I. spring, 2. autumn). Bill, black. Eye, chocolate brown. Upperparts, dull grey brown. Face, buff. Eyebrow, pale buff. Throat, buff. Underparts, streaked dull white and dark brown. Undertail coverts, white barred black. MALE: Upper breast, grey streaked black. FEMALE: Upper breast, grey streaked rufous. Moult. Adults, complete moult, January to April. Immatures, moult of primaries, tail, and body feathers observed in March. Breeding. Late August to December. Both sexes develop brood patches. Immatures observed in breeding condition.

Page 82 Ageing. Immature soft part colouration retained for most if not all of first year. Noske (1984) reports that the rufous wash to the flanks is retained for over year in some birds. Streaking on upper breast not apparently acquired until second year in some birds. So, some immatures ageable to 2- and adults aged 2+ except in late spring when age 1+ is a better, if conservative, judgement. Sexing. Adults, on plumage. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Victoria Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Mean S .0. No. 0 f Mean S. 0 . Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 10 9/' . 1 3 .21 7 91.9 1.68 THL (mm) 12 39.0 0.64 8 38.2 0.76 Tail (mm) 6 69 . 5 3.27 5 68.8 4.27 Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) 24 32.8 37.8 18 27.8 37.3 New South Wales Adult Male Ad u lt Female ------No. of Mean S .0. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds ------_._--- Tail (mm) 13 7 2 . 2 2.02 13 69.6 2.27 Weight (gm) 38 37.2 2 .10 20 33.8 2.10 Notes. (1) The weight of a male, caught six times, varied from 32.2 gm to 34.1 gm; that of female, also caught six times, varied from 31.8 gm to 37.7 gm. (2) New South Wales data provided by Richard Noske. Sites. Mt Piper 7,14 Barmah 11,0 Knowsley 3, 1 Wail 3, 1 Killawarra 10,1 TOTALS 34,17

RED IATTLEBIRD, Anthochaera carunculata

Size 7, AM. WP = 6. No. 638. Much work remains to be done on this species. Re-trap data is needed to complete the picture. Beware of sharp claws. Like most large birds, can become badly "tongued" in nets. Imm (1). Bill, black with brown tip, bare skin at base. Palate, yellow. Gape, yellow. Eye, dull brown, maybe with traces of blue grey skin round eye. Crown, dull brown. Brown edges to all coverts. Length of wattle, less than 4 mm. Sub-Adult (2- spring, 2 summer). Bill, black. Palate, orange. Gape, pinky grey. Eye, variable from tan or orange brown to red with tan outer ring. Brown/buff fringes to primary and lesser coverts. White fringes to secondaries and median coverts. Adult (2+ autumn, 3+ spring). Bill, black. Palate, orange. Gape, dark grey. Eye, red. Crown black. White edges to primaries and tips of most If not all coverts. Length of wattle, greater than 4 mm. Upperparts, dark brown streaked white. Underparts to abdomen, brown streaked buff. Abdomen, lemon yellow.

Page 83 Moult. Adult, complete moult late December to end April. Breeding. Observed September and November. Ageing. All three age classes caught at the same time of year, hence assigned ages. Not known if sub-adult identifiable after second summer. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Sexing criterion given on total head length; wattle length may provide a better one but insufficient data so far. Measurements. Wattle length is measured by placing a thin ruler under the wattle and butting it gently against the base of the wattle. The wattle rests on the scale; it is not stretched in any way. Adult Male Adu lt Female ------No. 0 f Mean S.D. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds ------Wing (mm) 27 155.9 2.60 21 145. 3 2 .89 THL (mm) 23 63.6 1 .46 16 59.2 1 .46 Tail (mm) 22 164.9 7.72 15 151. 8 7.72 Min Max

All birds - Weight ( g m) 29 95 134 Immature - Wattle (mm) 4 1 3 Adult - Wattle ( mm) 19 5 14 Sexing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent ( %) if Less if More ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult THL (mm) 95 59.9 62.9 68 .4 o. 6 31.0 Sites. Knowsley 24,0 Coranderrk 1,0 Wail 2,0 Mt Piper 1 ,0 Bendigo Whipstick 22,4 TOTALS 50,4

YELLOW WATTLEBIRO, Anthochaera paradoxa

Size 7, AM. WP = 7(=6,=8). No. 639. An endemic Tasmanian bird of the forests and the largest honeyeater. Strong, clutching feet with sharp claws will inflict painful wounds if the bird is not carefully handled. Imm (1). Wattle absent initially but developed by early autumn in males and late autumn or winter in females. Feathers of crown and nape, pale grey brown. Abdomen, brownish white. Otherwise similar to adult. Adult (1+). Prominent fleshy wattles up to 60 mm long. Feathers of crown and nape, blackish brown with white edges. Rest of upperparts, dusky brown streaked buffish. Wings/ dark brown with grey edges to flight feathers and white tips to primaries. Abdomen, yellow. Rest of underparts, grey streaked blackish. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. August to December.

Page 84 r------I :1 'I Ageing. Adult plumage acquired in first year, hence adults , accurately aged 1+ on present information. f Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. The possibility of developing a sexing criterion on wattle length, as appears possible for the Red Wattlebird, Anthochaera carunculata, has not been examined. Measurements. Male Female

No. 0 f Mean S .0. No. 0 f Mean S .0. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 25 179.8 8.5 9 166.6 5.0 Bill (mm) 24 33.1 1.5 9 30.1 1.5 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green.

NOISY FRIARBIRO, Philemon corniculatus

Size 7, AM. WP - 7(-6). No. 645. Not very noisy, quite well behaved actually. Imm (1 to 2-). Eye, grey with increasing red brown inner ring. White tips to grey feathers on sides of neck and mantle. Yellow markings on breast. Abdomen, white. Downy feathers in back and rump. Bare skin on head, dark grey, possibly with some brown downy feathers. Knob on bill not conspicuous. Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Eye, red. Eyebrow, consists of short buff feathers. Crown, sides of face, and neck, bare black skin. Chin, silver white. Throat and upper breast, long silver feathers with dark brown shafts. Obvious knob on bill. Moult. Adult primary and tail moult observed in January. Breeding. Adults in breeding condition in January. Ageing. Immatures identifiable in summer and autumn, hence age 2+ for adults at these times. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence age 1+ for adults at other times. Possibly, full adult plumage is not acqUired until the third year. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. Adult Immature No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------, Min Max Min Max / ------_._._--- Wing (mm) 2 154 161 3 149 156 THL (mm) 3 62.5 68.3 3 62.8 68.5 Tail (mm) 3 127 140 3 130 136 Weight (gm) 3 102 149 2 98 109 Site. Killawarra 6,0

Page 85

I --- --.--,- .,

LITTLE FRIARBIRD, Philemon citreogularis

Size 6, AY. WP = 7(=6,=8). No. 646. Imm (1). Bill, black. Gape, dark grey. Palate, pink. Eye, muddy brown. Facial skin, dark blue black. Crown, initially brown, rapidly becoming grey with fawn/grey feathers. Light grey collar. Back, grey with some downy brown feathers. Rump feathers, grey tipped white. Throat and chin, yellow. Upper breast, yellow changing to pale grey brown with yellow streaks. Yellow around cloaca and undertail coverts. Abdomen, white. Feet and legs, dark grey. Sub-Adult (2- spring, 2 summer). As adult but with trace of yellow in throat. Adult (2+ autumn, 3+ in spring and summer). Bill, black. Bare blue skin on face. Conspicuous grey collar. Throat, grey streaked white. Flanks, washed grey; rest of underparts white. Fine black plumes on nape. Feet and legs, blue grey. Moult. Adult and sub-adult primary moult, January to March. Immature tail moult observed in autumn. Breeding. Birds in breeding condition, including sub-adults, in January. Ageing. Age codes based on catches with ali three age groups represented. Sub-adults indistinguishable from older birds in their second autumn. Sexing. Sexes similar. Apparently sexable on cloaca in breeding condition. Size dimorphic, males larger. Insufficient data to develop sexing criterion. Measurements. Adult and Sub-adult Immature No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 14 129 147 23 123 139 THL (mm) 16 49.2 56.7 21 5 0 . 8 56.8 Tail ( mm) 15 105 121 21 100 i 16 Weight ( g m) 16 53 80 23 54 75 Sites. Knowsley 18, 0 Killawarra 21,0 TOTALS 39,0

BELL MINER, Manorina melanophrys

Size 4, AY. WP = 6(=7,=5). NO. 633. , / Sharp clawsl Belligerent in the hand, as in the field. Imm (1). Patch of coloured skin behind eye absent initially, then growing and changing colour from pale grey through pale yellow to pale orange. Brown juvenile fringes to primary coverts. Younger birds may show dark feathers in crown and downy feathers in rump. Adult (1+). Bill and gape, yellow. Palate, orange yellow. Eye, dark brown. Skin patch behind eye, extensive and red. Upperparts, dark olive green, darker on crown. Forehead, black. Black streak on cheek. Lores, yellow. Underparts, light yellow green. Wings and tail, brown. Feet and legs, orange yellow.

Page 86 Moult. Adult primary mOUlt, December to March. Immatures moult body feathers and tail in first year; primary moult not observed. Breeding. Birds observed in breeding condition, June to December, but have been observed breeding throughout the year (Robyn and Gary Wilson, pers comm). Both sexes (on measurements) develop brood patches. Ageing. Immatures indistinguishable from adults in first year. Given extended breeding period, adults are aged 1+ at all times. (NB Skin behind eye may be obscured by feathers; careful examination is necessary to avoid mistakes in ageing.) Sexing. Sexes similar. No birds sexed as male on cloaca. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Me an S•D. No. of Mean S•D• Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 29 101. 2 1.63 35 97.2 1.89 THL (mm) 92 38.7 0.80 97 37 • 6 0.74 Tail (mm) 98 94.0 3.65 108 89.7 3 . 11 Min Max

Weight (gm) - Adult (unsexed) 141 27.8 37.8 - Immature (unsexed) 31 24.4 34.2 Note. The weight of one bird, caught ei~ht times, ranged from 31.7 gm to 37.1 gm. It was heavier in wlnter months. Sexing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent on if Less if More ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult - Wing (mm) 95 97 102 38.5 o . 5 61. 0 Sites. Coranderrk 86,46 Dandenong 25,0 Wonga Park 123,n/a TOTALS 234,46 NB. Wong a Park data provided by Oavid Peters.

NOISY MINER, Manorina melanocephala

Size 6, AV. WP = 6=7. No. 634. A lovely cheeky bird in the hand. More questions than answers at this stage. Imm (1). Not caught. Adult (1+). Bill, yellow or yellowish oran~e. Gape, conspicuous and yellow. Unexplained variatlon in the number of primaries with yellow leading edges. Moult. Adult primary, secondary, and covert moult starts November and continues to at least March. Breeding. Birds observed in breeding condition in September and November but probably breed over longer period. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+.

Page 87 ------

Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger but larger sample needed to develop sexing criterion. Apparently sexable on cloaca. Measurements. No. of Range Birds ------Min Max ------Adult - Wing (mm) 11 130 148 - THL (mm) 12 46.2 52 . 3 - Tail (mm) 5 113 125 - Weight ( gm) 14 54 90 Sites. Knowsley 4 , 0 Arthurs Creek 7 , 1 Killawarra 2,0 TOTALS 13, 1

YELLOW-FACED HONEYEATER, Lichenostomus chrysops

Size 2, AY. WP = 7(=6). No. 614. Imm (1 to 2-). Bill, black with brown cere and orange tip. Gape, yellow. Eye, brown changing to dusky blue - may show blue outer and brown inner ring. May have brown juvenile feathers in back and rump. Brown tips to lesser, median, and secondary coverts. Otherwise as adults. Adult (2+). Bill, black with black cere. Gape, cream. Eye, dusky blue. Upperparts, olive brown. Underparts, grey. Yellow stripe runs from gape under eye ending in small white tuft; bordered black top and bottom. Off white or brown tips to lesser, median and secondary coverts. Moult. Adults, complete moult January to March/April. Body moult of immatures observed in March. Breeding. September to January. No males (sexed on cloaca) observed with brood patches. Ageing. Immatures can be identified into their first spring on feather wear and eye colour! when aged 2-. Hence, age 2+ for adults. NB. All birds, lncluding adults, may have brown tips to wing coverts. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Mean S . 0 • No. 0 f Mean S. O. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 60 8 2 . 1 2 • 16 57 76.8 2.00 THL (mm) 62 34.2 0.79 60 33.3 0.63 Tail (mm) 61 73.5 1. 9 3 61 69.6 2 .31 Min Max

Weight (gm) - Unsexed birds 150 1 4 . 6 20.0 Sexing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent UO if Less if More Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed

Adult Wing (mm) 95 76 82 43.1 o. 4 56.5

Page 88 r ~ ;r Sites.

0- Coranderrk 81, ll' Mt Piper 40, 2 Rotamah Island 9,0 r st Andrews 9, 1 TOTALS 139,17

WHITE-EARED HDNEYEATER, Lichenostomus leucotis

Size 3, AY. WP = 7=6. No. 617. Imm (lor 2-). Eye, brown. Bill, black, may show dark brown cere. Gape, yellow orange fading to cream. Crown, olive ~reen with some brown feathers. Yellow wash to ear patch. Posslbly downy feathers in back. Lemon tips to greater coverts. Buff tips to outer three tail feathers. Olive tips to lower throat feathers. Adult (1+ spring, 2+ autumn). Eye, brick red. Bill and gape, black. Crown, grey with fine black striations. Upperparts and tail, olive green. Throat, lares, outer edge of ear patch and upper breast, black. Ear patch, white. Underparts, pale yellowy green. Moult. Adult primary mOUlt, January to March/April. Immature body moult, February to March. Breeding. Observed in November and December. Observed in breeding condition post-drought in 1983. Only females develop brood patches. Age~ng. Some, maybe all, birds retain traces of immature plumage and soft parts into second year when they will be aged 2 or 2-. If this applies to all birds, adults will be aged 2+ at all times. If this only applies to some birds, adults will be aged 1+ in the spring. Until resolved, a conservative judgement is preferred. SeXing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Apparently sexable on cloaca. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Mean S .0. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 62 95.8 2.45 49 84.8 2.06 THL (mm) 69 40.0 0.84 49 36.5 o. 66 Tail (mm) 37 92.0 3.51 35 81.4 3.79 Min Max

Weight (gm) - Unsexed bIrds 80 1 8 . 3 29 . 4 SeXing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent ( %) if Less if More ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult THL (mm) 95 37.5 38.6 94.4 O. 1 5 . 6 Sites. Bendigo Whipstick 180,61 Coranderrk 32,13 Wail 1 , 0 Big Billy Bore 16, 0 Oandenong 1, 0 Yaringa 2,0 Rotamah Island 2, 0 TOTALS 234,74

Page 89 YELLOW-THROATED HONEYEATER, Lichenostomus flavicollis

Size 3, AY. No. 616. Endemic to Tasmania, widely distributed and easily netted.

Imm (1). Eye, dark b ro wn . Brownish wash to nape. otherwise as adult. Adult (1+). Eye, deep red. Nape, grey. Upperparts, olive green. Blackish face and upper breast. Small off-white mark behind eye. Throat, bright yellow. Rest of underparts, grey. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. August to Oecember. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. NB• Taken from museum specimens. Male Female

No. 0 f Mean 5 .0. No. 0 f Mean 5 . 0 . Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 32 106.2 3.8 15 94.7 2 • 4 Bill (mm) 33 20.2 o . 7 15 1 8 • 6 0.7 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by Oavid Henderson and Bob Green.

YELLOW-TUFTED HDNEYEATER, Lichenostomus melanops

Size 3, AY. No. 619. This description is based solely on L.m. meltoni, the sub-species occurring inland from the Great Divide. Much more work is needed on this species. This bird is easy to catch in large numbers in hot weather round dams, even with few nets. This allows little time for full processing. Harder to catch in cold weather. Re-trap rate low. Imm (1 autumn, 2­ spring). Bill, black with yellow base to lower mandible. Cere, yellow. Gape, yellow. Eye, brown. Yellow in plumage paler than in adults. Adult (1+ or 2+). Bill, black. Gape, black. Eye, various, brown, reddish brown, or brick red. Upperparts, olive grey green. Forehead and crown, green yellow. Black lores and eye patch to ear coverts. Ear tuft, bright yellow. Throat, bright yellow with darker centre. Rest of underparts, yellow green with few dark streaks. Flight feathers and tail, brown with green yellow edges. The three outer tail feathers have buff tips to inner webs. At least some adults go into an eclipse condition, showing a slightly grey/yellow cere and base to lower mandible and a trace of yellow in gape. These birds can easily be mistaken for immatures. Moult. Adult, usually complete moult Oecember to May but in 1982/83 drought year moult was advanced two months. Some immatures undergo a complete post-~uvenile moult at the same time as adult moult; some moult everythlng except wings and/or tail.

Page 90

L ,Jr· '1 F. ~

Breeding. Usually September to December but breeding not observed in this species in 1982/83 until the breaking of the drought in 1983. Both sexes (on cloaca) develop brood patches. Ageing. Wings and taiis of immatures are about 8% shorter than those of adults; immatures can readily be identified when the new tail is growing by the longer central tail feathers. Immatures which have not moulted their primaries will have very worn wings in the spring. Last trace of immature plumage usually downy feathers in lower back and rump. Wing and tail measurements are usually very similar for adults. A spring bird with worn primaries and a significantly longer tail will be age 2-. Eye coiour is another good ageing clue. All red or red brown eyed birds are adults, aged 2+. It is possible that the red brown eye is not attained until the third year or later, judging by the small numbers of such birds in our catches. More re-trap data is needed to estabiish when eye colour changes. Brown eyed adults are aged 1+ because they cannot necessarily be separated from immatures. Sexing. Unknown if both males and females acquire red brown eyes. Unknown if size dimorphic. Our cloacal observations do not correlate with either eye colour or size. This may mean that the species is not sex size dimorphic or that it is not easily sexable on cloaca. Measurements. Much of our data is useless because the importance of eye colour was not realised for some time and it was not recorded .for all birds, particularly during large catches. We have insufficient data to permit a full analysis. Brown eyed birds fall into two size groups. We do not know how to interpret this result as we ca~not, without much more re-trap data, separate the size dimorphism effects of age and sex. The most simple and plausible explanation is that small brown eyed birds are immatures and that the large birds are adults. This explanation is supported by the known large size difference between immatures and adults. There is no evidence of two size groups in red and red brown eyed birds. Large brown eyed birds seem to be slightly larger than red eyed birds but we would not be confident at this stage of attributing any significance or causality to this result. No. of Mean S.D. Birds ------Wing (mm) - Small Brown Eyed 44 81. 5 2.25 - Large Brown Eyed 22 88.6 2.25 - Red/Red Brown Eyed 35 87. 1 3.29 Min Max

Weight (gm )- All birds 925 17.2 27.6 Note. The weight of one bird, caught four times, ranged from 20.2 gm to 21.8 gm. Sites. , Knowsley 632, 87 Kiilawarra 221,16 Mt Piper 12,2 -: TOTALS 865,105

PURPLE-GAPED HDNEYEATER, Lichenostomus cratitius

Size 3, AV. WP = 5=6=7. No 620. We have had two catches of this species, both in the late autumn. Re-traps will resolve a number of issues. Imm (1). Gape and fleshy continuation, yellow (according to the literature). Otherwise as adults. Free-Flying (1+). Gape and fleshy continuation, fiesh coloured, some with a trace of purple. Otherwise as adults.

Page 91 - ~~-~------~~~

Adult (1+). BIll, black. Gape and fleshy continuation, purple, very extensive in one bird. Eyes, dark brown. Head, grey. Black eye patch with small yellow tuft behind. Upperparts, olive green. Sides of throat, yellow. Rest of underparts, yellow grey. Moult. In early April, two of our birds with yellow gapes were in active primary moult, three had old primaries, one had new primaries. One purple gaped bird was in primary moult, one was in suspended primary moult, five had new primaries. There was no active primary moult in seven flesh gaped birds caught at the same time; all had old primaries. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Clearly more information needed to establish what free flying birds are. They are probably beyond their first year as two were recorded as having old tails with asynchronous growth bars. They are either adults in eclipse plumage or birds which have not reached full adult condition. These birds had worn primaries. If purple gaped birds (adults) are older than flesh gaped birds, they will be aged 2+. It is possible that full adult plumage and soft parts are not attained until the third year. Until we have more information on this species, it is better to age all non-immatures as 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Unknown if size dimorphic. Unknown if sex able on cloaca in breeding condition. Measurements. No. of Range Birds Min Max

All Birds - Wing (mm) 26 76 87 - THL (mm) 26 35.0 39 • 2 - Tail (mm) 27 73 87 - Weight (gm) 27 1 8 • 0 22.6 Site. Big Billy Bore 27,0

YELLOW-PLUMED HONEYEATER, Lichenostomus ornatus

Size 2, AV. No. 622. A nice bird to study, with some outstanding questions. Imm (lor 2-). Bill, brown with yellow base. Cere, yellow. Gape, yellow. Palate, orange yellow. Eye ring, yellow. Buff tint to grey green crown. Lower back and rump feathers may be downy. Adult (1+ spring, 2+ autumn). Eye ring, black. Crown, grey. Upperparts, olive brown. Conspicuous yellow plume. Flight feathers and tail, olive yellow. Underparts, grey streaked darker. BREEDING: Bill, black. Cere and gape, black. ECLIPSE: Bill, black with pale yellow base to lower mandible. Cere and gape, yellow. Moult. Adult primary moult, January to April. One immature in partial primary moult observed in September. Breeding. September to March. Only females get brood patches. Ageing. Traces of immature characters retained into second year in at least some birds (age 2-). Adult eclipse condition based on all April adults having yellow cere and gape and all November adults having black cere and gape.. We do not yet know if all immatures can be distinguished from eclipse adults in spring, so age 1+ for adults at this time.

Page 92 r: !r Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. I Apparently sexable on cloaca in breeding condition. r " Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female ------~--- No. 0 f Mean S. D. No. 0 f Mean 5 . D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 58 89.5 1. 98 40 82 . 3 1. 73 THL (mm) 64 34.9 o .77 54 33.3 0.79 Tail (mm) 31 75.2 2.83 27 71 .8 2.95 Min Max

, Weight (gm )- Unsexed birds 169 14.6 23.2 Sexing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent (% ) if Less if Mo re ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult Wing (mm) 95 84 88 80.6 0.1 19 .2 Sites. Big Billy Bore 17, 0 Knowsley 1, 0 Mt ,Piper 1,0 Bendigo Whipstick 156,25 TOTALS 174,25

FUSCOUS HONEVEATER, Lichenostomus fuscus

Size 2, AV. WP = 7 (=8,=6). No. 613. Imm (lor 2-). Bill, brown to grey-brown with yellow to orange-yellow base changing to black. Cere, gape and eye ring, bright yellow turning orange then brown then black. Palate, yellow to orange-yellow. Crown, contains brown feathers. Indistinct buffish yellow ear coverts. Rump, may show downy brown feathers. Legs, pale grey. Adult (2+). Generally olive-brown plumage. Small yellow plume in ear coverts. Legs, dark grey brown. BREEDING: Bill, cere, gape and eye-ring, black. ECLIPSE: Bill, black with yellow base. Gape, cere and eye-ring, yellow. Moult. AdUlt, usually complete moult December to March/April. During 1982/83 drought, moult was advanced by about two months. No primary moult observed in immatures. Body moult not recorded for immatures because of high catching rates. Breeding. Usually late August to January. No breeding observed during the 1982/83 drought but birds bred post-drought. Only females (on cloaca and measurements) develop lar.ge brood patches. Ageing. Confusion between immatures and eclipse adults is easy if bander is unfamiliar with the species. All ageing characters should be examined. Immatures can be identified in the spring following fledging by the very abraded primaries although they have breeding soft parts (re-trap data). Adults in spring show only slight primary wear. Adults will always be aged 2+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Sexable on cloaca in breeding condition.

r

Page 93 !r-­ i ~

Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Mean 5 .0. No. 0 f Mean S.D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 98 84.6 2 .30 105 80.0 2.30 THL (mm) 104 34.4 o .71 139 33.0 o. 7 1 Min Max

Weight (gm ) - Unsexed birds 480 1 4 . 7 23.5 Note. Gillian ounterley reports an average adult wing length of 79.2 mm, with a standard deviation of 3.32 mm, for 149 unsexed adults collected at Eastwood, New South Wales. Sex,ing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent (%) if Less if More ------_._------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed --_._------Adult THL (mm) 95 32.6 34.8 28.6 o . 6 70.8 Sites. Knowsley 339,13 Killaw~rra 98,5 Mt Piper 38,0 TOTALS 475,18

, ! Ii i" WHITE-PLUMED HONEYEATER, Lichenostomus penicillatus I Size 2, AV. WP = 7=6. No. 625. I, Keen banders can spend a lot of time working out why some birds , have a small yellow tip to the white plume. They might like us, I, conclude that all birds have it but that it wears off faIrly I quickly and that it is of no assistance in ageing and sexing. On f:, the other hand, they might not. Imm (1). Bill, pink, edges and tip brown, changing to black I with yellow/orange base. Gape, yellow. Cere, brown grey. ji i: Bright yellow ear coverts and eye ring. Downy brown feathers in " rump and back. Plume, indistinct. ,I Adult (1+ or 2+). Upperparts, light olive grey. Head, olive yellow. Plume, white. Wing and tail feathers, brown edged olive yellow. Throat and upper breast washed yellow. Rest of underparts, buff. BREEDING: 811,l black. Gape, black. ECLIPSE: After breeding most adults go into an eclipse phase with orange/yellow base to bill, noticeable yellow gape and brown cere. This condition established from retrap data. Moult. Adult primary moult, late December to end April. Immatures moult primary, tail, and body feathers after about three months (from retrap data). Ageing. Immatures distinguished from eclipse adults by much yellower face and indistinct plume in first three months. After post-juvenile moult, this distinction may not be possible and both should be aged 1+. However, all black billed birds are aged 2+. Breeding. Observed October to January. Only females (on cloaca and measurements) develop brood patches. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Sexable on cloaca in breeding condition.

Page 94 Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Mean S. D. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 154 86.9 2.52 156 8D.9 2.35 THL (mm) 126 3 6 • 1 D. 7 1 138 34.4 D.71 Min Max

Weight (gm )- Unsexed birds 798 15. D 24.1 Note. The weight of one bird, caught five times, ranged from 19.7 gm to 23.6 gm. It was heavier in winter. SeXing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent (% ) if Less if More ------Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adult THL (mm) 95 34.3 36.2 44.4 D. 6 55.D 'v r Sites. Mt Piper 345,2D5 Knowsley 28,D Barmah 14, D Yaringa 2, D Wail 97,4 Killawarra 96,22 TDTALS 582,231

BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER, Melithreptus gUlaris

Size 3, AY. WP = 8(=7). No. 58D. Juv (J). Bill, orange. Gape, orange. Eye, brown with dull blue eyelid. Crown, dusky with fawn tips to feathers. Nape band, indistinct or absent. Back, fawn and cinnamon with lemon band; may show olive feathers. Chin, grey. Undertail coverts, olive. Imm (l or 2-). Bill; upper mandible, orange brown; lower mandible, orange. Gape, orange. Eye, brown with dull blue eyelid. Crown, sandy brown with black feathers coming through on forehead. Nape band, white with a trace of fawn. Back, olive green with some sandy brown feathers; may have lemon band. Rump, sandy brown. Upper tail coverts, pale olive green. Chin, grey. Undertail coverts, olive changing to white. Feet and legs, bright orange. Adult (2+). Bill, black. Gape, dark grey to black. Eye, brown, may show reddish tinge. Upperparts, olive grey. Rump, greeny yellow. Head, black with white crescent round nape (but 'r note that all crown feathers have brownish shafts which should not /' be mistaken for immature plumage). Chin, black. Centre of throat, grey. Sides of throat, white. Rest of underparts, buffish white. Tail and wings, brown. Skin round eye, blue. Feet and legs, orange. MOUlt. Adult primary, tail and body mOUlt, November to March. Immature primary, secondary, greater and lesser covert, and partial body moult observed in December. Dne immature, banded in I December, was retrapped in March in partial primary mOUlt, in , conventional sequence, starting at primary 4. Breeding. Dbserved in breeding condition in November and December. Young seen in nest in April in Little Desert and dependant juvenile seen in June at Chiltern (Richard Loyn pers comm)

Page 95

l Ageing. Pale base to lower mandible and traces of immature plumage retained in crown, nape, rump, and underparts into start of second year when aged 2-. Adults accordingly aged 2+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. Adult Immature No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 25 81 93 17 81 91 THL (mm) 24 33.2 36.9 17 32.9 35.8 Tail (mm) 11 65 72 13 64 70 Weight ( g m) 29 19.6 23.2 16 17 . 3 2 2 . 1 Sites. Mt Piper 8,3 Knowsley 8,1 Wa 11 1 , 0 Killawarra 24,2 TOTALS 41 ,6

STRONG-BILLEO HONEYEATER, Melithreptus validirostris

Size 4, AV. WP = 7=6(=5). No. 582. An endemic bird of the sclerophyll forests, often moving in small loose groups. It calls regularly and a netted bird will usually call in others within a few minutes. Imm (1). Bill, orange at first, later with a dark brown tip; the brown gradually extends to the base of the bill with age. Gape, orange. Eye, mid-brown. Eye ring, orange yellow. Nape band, bright lemon yellow paling to white with age. Abdomen, axillaries, and sides of throat, white tinged pale yellow. I' Adult (1+). Bill and gape, black. Eye, deep red brown. I' Bare skin over eye and eye ring, pale blue green. Nape band, i: ' white. Abdomen, axillaries, and sides of throat, white. I, Moult. Not observed. i:- Breeding. September to December. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1 + • Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. NB. Taken from museum specimens. Male Female No. of Mean S•D• No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 17 83.6 1.7 12 80.0 2 . 2 Bill (mm) 19 21.4 1.0 12 19.4 1 .4 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green.

Page 96 I"..- I BROWN-HEADED HDNEVEATER, Melithreptus brevirostris t-: Size 2, AY. WP = 6=7. No. 583. Juv (J). Bill, pale tan. Gape, orange yellow. Eyelid, turquoise. Nape band, absent. Plumage, buff rufous. Imm (1,2, or 2-). Bill; upper mandible, pale brown; lower mandible, orange becoming darker retaining pale base. Gape, orange/yellow. Eye, dark brown. Eyelid, pale turquoise. Crown, greenish with grey/brown flecks. Ear coverts, pale yellowish. Nape band, absent or indistinct. Back and rump, greenish, may show downy brown feathers. Yellow leading edge to secondaries and primaries from the sixth inwards. Buff tips to greater and median coverts. Throat and breast, buffy brown. Abdomen, off-white. Adult (2+). Bill, black. Gape, dark grey. Eye, reddish brown. Eyelid, cream yellow. Upperparts, washed olive. Crown and face brownish. Nape band, dull cream. Throat and underparts, buffy white. Moult. Adults undergo complete moult, December to March. Immatures have been observed in autumn moulting primaries, secondaries, tail, and some body feathers. Breeding. Usually October to March. Breeding (bird caught with egg) recorded after breaking of drought in 1983. Both sexes (on cloaca) develop brood patches. Age 1 birds recorded with large brood patches. Ageing. Traces of immature plumage retained to start of second year. These birds are aged 2-. Plumage can become very worn; some do not moult secondaries until second autumn when identifiable by yellow leading edges; these birds aged 2. Adults aged 2+ at all times. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Measurements. Adu it Immature No. of Mean 5 • 0 . No. of Mean 5.0. Birds Birds ------Wing (mm) 62 72.3 2.62 28 71 .2 3.61 THL (mm) 53 31.6 0.86 16 30.9 a .81 Tail (mm) 35 57.0 2.07 16 58.5 1.70 Min Max Min Max

Weight ( g m) 182 11. 2 1 5 . 9 70 11. 1 14.5 Sites. Mt Piper 35, 7 Knowsley 78,9 Wail 1, a , Toolangi 1 , a Killawarra 5 1 , 7 Big Bi 11 Y Bore 59,0 /" TOTALS 225,23

WHITE-NAPED HDNEVEATER, Melithreptus lunatus

Size 2, AY. WP = 7(=6,=8). No. 578. If these birds are present, the bander should be prepared to handle large catches. Imm (lor 2-). Bill; upper mandible, black; lower mandible, brown tinged orange. Gape, orange. Palate, orange. Eye, chocolate brown. Bare skin above eye, orange. Brown juvenile feathers in crown and back. Nape band indistinct. Median and lesser coverts, brown with buff tips. II' ! i Page 97 \: Adult (2+). Bill and gape, black. Bare skin above eye, red. Forehead, crown, ear coverts, and nape, black. Nape band, white. Upperparts, olive green. Throat and underparts, white. Moult. Complete adult moult from January to March. Immatures moult body feathers in first year. Breeding. Usually September to January. Bred (with egg) post-drought in 1983. Probably only females develop brood patches. Birds observed in breeding condition with traces of immature plumage. Ageing. Last traces of immature plumage retained in nape band into second spring, hence age 2- for these birds. Adults aged 2 + • Sexing. Sexes similar. In breeding condition, most can be sexed on cloaca. Size dimorphic, males larger. Mea,surements. Male Female No. of Mean 5 .0. No. of Mean 5.0. Birds Birds Adu lt Wing (mm) 136 79.2 1. 88 98 73.2 2.03 THL (mm) 165 31. 9 0.66 119 29.8 o . 52 Tail (mm) 130 61. 5 2.33 98 57.5 1.94 Immature Wing (mm) 41 76.2 1 .96 47 72.2 1.96 THL (mm) 50 31.6 0.55 55 29.6 0.53 Tail (mm) 42 61.2 1.32 48 57.2 1.90 Min Max

Weight (gm) - Adults, unsexed 403 11 .7 18.8 - Immatures, unsexed 71 11. 7 1 7 . 8 Note. The weights of two birds, both caught five times, ranged from 12.6 to 15.0 gm and from 13.8 to 15.4 gm respectively. In both cases the low weight was in early September and the high weight in in mid-February. Sexing Criteria. Level Female Male Percent (% ) if Less if More ------Th an Than Right Wrong Unsexed ------_.~------Adult THL (mm) 95 30 • 2 31. 2 82.9 0.3 16 . 8 Imm THL (mm) 95 30 . 1 31 . 1 82.3 o. 3 17 . 4 Sites.

Ii , Mt Piper 175,3 Yaringa 1 ,0 Coranderrk 344,73 Knowsley 1 , 0 Killawarra 21,0 TOTALS 542,76

BLACK-HEADED HDNEYEATER, Melithreptus affinis

Size 2, AY. No. 584. An endemic Tasmanian honey eater which generally moves through the sclerophyll canopy in small groups. It occasionally descends to feed in the scrub layer when it is easily netted. The repeated calls of the netted bird will quickly attract others. . Imm (1). Bill, dark brown with pale base and tip. Crown and sides of head, pale olive brown. Throat, breast and abdomen, yellowish white.

Page 98 l', 1rr :, Adult (1+). Bill, black. Small whitish crescent above eye. Crown and sides of head, black. Upperparts, olive green. Throat and sides of breast, black. Breast and abdomen, greyish white. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. September to December. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1 + • Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. NB. Taken from museum specimens. Male Female

No. 0 f Mean 5 • D • No. of Mean S. D. Birds _._--_.-Birds Wing (mm) 25 78.2 1.9 8 75.8 2.0 Bill (mm) 23 1 4 • 8 D.6 7 13.5 0.7 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green.

BROIN HONEYEATER, Lichmera indistincta

Size 1 or 2, AY. WP = 6. No. 597. There is considerable geographic size variation in this species; the measurements and sexing criterion presented below should be used with caution. Size 2 band in eastern Australia; size 1 may be more appropriate in western Australia. Much remains to be learned of this bird. Partly nomadic. Their numbers vary with and closely follow the timing of the flowering of their main food sources - Myrtaceae, Proteaceae, and Epacridaceae. The male proclaims and defends an area near the nest with loud "sweety sweety" calls from vantage points in its territory. lmm (1). Gape, yellow. No yellow spot behind eye (Pizzey and Doyle 1980). Primary coverts, brown. Crown and back, yellowish olive. Some birds may have some brown primaries and secondaries. Plumage more yellow than adults (Readers Digest Services 1979). Adult (1+). Yellow or white spot behind eye. Upperparts, dull brown, more olive on the back and rufous on the rump. Underparts, grey toning to white on the abdomen. Yellow green outer edges to primaries, secondaries and tail feathers. MALE: Gape: breeding, black; non-breeding, yellow. Bill, noticeably longer, stouter, and less curved than that of females. Crown, brownish grey contrasting with back. fEMALE: Gape, yellow. Bill, see above. Crown, dull brown not contrasting with back. Moult. Adults; primary and secondary post-nuptial moult is completed by April/May. Immatures; post-juvenile moult starts later than adult moult and may be complete or partial. Breeding. Varies to take advantage of peak flowering of its food sources, but is usually completed before the start of summer. There is some evidence of autumn/winter breeding. In two years at Eyre, WA, breeding was completed by September/October. Ageing. Difficult. Confirmation is required of the differences between immatures and adults. Until this is done, all birds not identifiable as juveniles or immatures should be aged 1+.

Page 99

'I f

1

Sexing. Breeding males can be sexed on black gape. At other times, adult males can be identified on contrast of crown colour with back, and bill shape and size (storr and Johnstone 1979). Immatures and adult females not readily sexable, but some immature males can be identified by distinctive bill (possibly only by those familiar with the species). Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Male Female No. of Mean 5 . D. No. of Mean S.D. Birds BIrds ------WIng (mm) 2D4 65.3 1 .68 160 59.0 1. 77 THL (mm) 194 35.3 0.86 151 31 .8 0.92 Sexing Criterion. Level Female Male Percent ( %) if Less if More than than Right Wrong Unsexed ------All birds - THL ( mm ) 95 32.9 34.3 88.1 o. 3 11. 6 NB. This criterion should be used with caution due to the considerable geographic size variation in this species. John Liddy (pers comm) reports average wing lengths of Queensland birds of 71 to 72 mm for adult males and 64 to 65 mm for adult females. Sites. Eyre Bird Observatory, WA 282,21 Beverley, WA 80,2 TOTALS 362,23 NB This description was prepared by Peter Congreve.

CRESCENT HONEYEATER, Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera

Size 2, AY. WP = 7(=8,=6). No. 630. Still lots to find out, hence lengthy description. Imm (1 to 2-). Bill, black. Eye, light brown with red appearing with age. Eyebrow, pale olive. Lares, grey brown. Forehead, crown and nape, olive brown with darker feather shafts giving screaked appearance. Rest of upperparts, olive brown, unstreaked. Primaries and secondaries; inner web, dark grey; outer web, yellow olive at base shading to dark grey with olive fringe at end. Lesser coverts, olIve brown. MedIan coverts, dark grey with olive green fringes. Primary and secondary coverts, very dark grey with olive green leading edges. Tail feathers, dark grey with olive green outer edge. Chin and throat, off-white streaked grey brown. Partial grey brown crescent appearing on upper breast, edged below with narrow whitish band and white between horns of crescent. Flanks, brown. Lower breast and abdomen, off-white with thick light brown streaks. Undertail coverts, grey brown with thick white fringe. Adult Male (2+). Bill, black. Eye, red. Eyebrow, white. Upperparts, dark grey. Conspicuous yellow patches in wings and tail. Underparts, white with bold black partial crescent. Throat, lightly streaked. Adult Female (2+). Bill, black. Eye, red. Eyebrow, buff and inconspicuous. Upperparts, olive brown. Patches in wings and tail, more olive than yellow. Underparts, white to off-white. Crescent, brown and not clearly defined. Throat, heavily streaked.

Page 100 Moult. Not observed, The immature described above was aged as a 2-. It had undergone one primary moult and had moulted all but one of its secondaries. Breeding, Observed in May, June and October. The 2- bird described had a reducing oedema to us brood patch (in June). Ageing. Incomplete information. No young immatures caught. We have aged two birds as 2- on a number of characters, This suggests that full adult plumage is not acquired until at least the second year, Sexing. Adults and possibly older immatures on plumage. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. No, 0 f Range Birds Min Max

All birds - Wing (mm) 5 68 73 - THL (mm) 4 35.4 39.4 - Tail (mm) 5 57 68 Weight (gm) 5 14. 3 1 7 • 0 Sites. Coranderrk 3 , 0 st Andrews 2,0 TOTALS 5 , 0

NEW HOLLANO HONEVEATER, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

Size 3, AV. WP = 6(=7). No. 631. Juv (J). Bill, dark brown to black. Gape, yellow. Eye, dark grey to brown. Plumage, generally brown. Cheek patch, yellowish. Indistinct streaks on crown. Imm (lor 2-). Bill, black. Gape, yellow changing to black. Eye, becoming white. Plumage, generally as adults but with traces of downy Juvenile plumage in mantle, back and rump. Brown fringes to all wlng coverts retained to second year moult in some birds. Adult (1+ spring, 2+ autumn). Bill, black. Gape black. Palate, black. Eye, white. Head, black with white eyebrow and cheek patch. Upper back, black heavily streaked white. Lower back and rump, brownish heavily streaked white. Underparts, white, streaked black. Conspicuous yellow wing patch. Moult. Oescribed by Paton (1982a, 1982b). Adult primary moult observed by us from October to March. Breeding. Observed in breeding condition by us October to January. Paton (1984) reports breeding July to November and possible breeding again March to May. Only females (sexed on , cloaca) develop brood patches. / Ageing. Immatures identifiable in autumn, so adults aged 2+ at this time. In spring, adults cannot be distinguished from birds hatched the previous spring, so aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Can be sexed on cloaca in ~reeding condition. Size dimorphic, males larger. Insufficient data to develop sexing criterion.

Page 101 Measurements. Adult Immature No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds -----_._---- Min Max Min Max -_.~------Wing (mm) 21 73 85 8 71 84 THL (mm) 24 3 B .8 43.7 8 39.6 43.0 Tail (mm) 21 72 88 8 69 87 Weight (gm) 34 18.0 26. 3 8 17.7 2 6 • 3 Sites.

H't; Pip e r 1 3 , 0 Yaringa 1 , 0 Wail 5 ,0 Coranderrk 1 6 , 3 Rotamah Island 5,0 TOTALS 40,0

WHITE-CHEEKED HDNEYEATER, Phylidonyris nigra

Size 3, AY. WP = 7. No. 632. Partly nomadic in the Beverley, WA area. Leaves the breeding area when the flowering of the Oryandra seselis and Calothamus spp. is over. Moves to other sources of nectar, notably Adenanthos cygnorum. Returns in April when the Dryandra starts flowering. Juv (J). Base of lower mandible, pinkish horn. The nares (ie the external openings of the nostrils, slit shaped in most adult honeyeaters) dip to a point in the centre. Gape, yellow. Feathers of the crown and nape, black centred with brown edges giving these parts a brownish appearance. Starting from the base of the eye stripe, the head has a powdery yellow wash. Underparts suffused with yellow. Immature (1 to 2-). Bill black. Nares dip to a point but this character approaches lhe adult line in older birds. Gape, yellow darkening to black. Eyebrows, white. Crown and nape feathers, a mixture of brown and white feather edges giving these areas a dusky appearance. In older immatures, the crown is black and the nape is blackish streaked white. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Nares form an almost straight line; they do not dip to a point. Gape, black. Crown, black. Eyebrows, white. Nape, blackish with white streaking. Moult. Adult post-nuptial moult of primaries and secondaries starts late September; 1985/86 population moult taking from 127 to 134 days, and individual moult from 93 to 109 days. (NB Data for the end of moult is incomplete as birds left the banding area in December.) Information on post-juvenile primary moult incomplete. First record is early November. From retraps, there is some evidence of partial moult. Breeding. Nests have been recorded between May and November. There is evidence that some immatures breed in their first autumn/winter after fledging. Ageing. Age codes for immatures based on retraps of birds banded as juveniles; older immatures were aged on the presence of brown primary coverts. It is not known at this stage if this applies to all immatures or if there is any time of year when all immatures are distinguishable from adults, hence age 1+ for adults. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger.

Page 102 Site. Beverley, WA 489,115 NB This description was prepared by Peter Congreve.

WHITE-FRONTED HONEYEATER, Phylidonyris albifrons

Size 2, AV. No. 594. Highly nomadic; large numbers moving in small parties to and from areas of flowering of their food sources - Myrtaceae, Proteaceae, and Epacridaceae. Juv (J). Gape, fleshy yellow. Sides of forehead and face, greyish brown. Crown, nape and ear coverts, brown. Tail feathers, pointed. Imm (1 to 2-). Gape, black with some yellow at the hinge in younger birds! becoming black. Sides of forehead, white. Crown and nape, a mlxture of juvenile brown and adult black, white tipped feathers. Ear coverts, silver grey with some ~uvenile brown feathers on the fringes. Brown feathers have dlsappeared by late autumn, after which older immatures can be identified by having some or all primary coverts brown. Adult (2+ autumn, 1+ spring). Gape, black. Crown and nape feathers, black with white tips giving these areas a scaly appearance. Sides of forehead/ white, giving the bird a vulturine look. Primary coverts, black. Moult. Adult post-nuptial moult of primaries and secondaries observed from September to mid-April. Autumn and winter fledged birds undergo a complete post-juvenile moult of flight feathers at much the same time. Spring fledged birds may have a complete moult, but interrupted moults of primaries and partial moults of secondaries are common; moult has been observed between November and early May.

Page 103

'I I Breeding. The timing will vary with seasonal rains and blossom, but in the south west is uncommon between December and February. Both sexes develop brood patches. Ageing. Age codes established from retrap data. Juvenile characteristics lost after about three months. Some spring fledged birds identifiable into start of second year on contrast between two ages of feathers in wing following partial moult, hence aged 2-. All immatures identifiable in autumn, hence adults aged 2+ at this time. Adults aged 1+ in spring as not distinguishable from birds fledged in the previous spring which have had a complete moult. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Male Female ------No. of Mean 5 . D. No. of Mean 5 . D. Birds Birds ----_.------Adu it Wing (mm) 17B B1.5 2.22 210 74.4 2 . 16 THL (mm) 17D 39 .7 o . B4 194 36.5 1.00 Immature Wing (mm) 115 79.7 2.54 117 72.4 2 • 35 THL (mm) 113 39.7 0.9B 127 36.3 0.92 Juvenile Wing (mm) 77 77.5 2.56 114 70.B 1.94 THL (mm) 73 39.4 o .9 B 109 36 . 1 0.94 Sexing Criteria. Level Female Male Percent UO if Less if More ------than than Right Wrong Unsexed ------Adu it THL (mm) 95 37. [I 39.0 B0 . 7 0.5 IB.9 Imm THL (mm) 95 37.1 38.B 8 I. 4 D.4 1 B . 2 Juv THL ( mm) 95 36.B 3B.6 7B.2 o . 4 21 .4 Sites. Eyre Bird Dbservatory, WA 714,66 Kalgoorlie, WA 133 , 0 TOTALS B47,66 NB This description was prepared by Peter Congreve.

EASTERN SPINEBILL, Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

Size 1, AV. WP = 6=7. No. 591. Imm (1). Bill, black with yellow base to lower mandible. Eye, brown to dull red. Gape, yellow. Crown, olive green. May have downy feathers in back. Throat patch, indistinct. Underparts, buffy brown. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Gape, yellow and indistinct. Upperparts, nape chestnut fading to grey back and rump. Throat patch, chestnut brown. Underparts, buff grey. Eye, bright red. MALE: Head; all black in Victoria; black with grey crown in South Australia. FEMALE: Head; black with grey crown in Victoria; all grey in South Australia. (Ford 1975) Moult. Adult primary moult, January to March. Immature moult not observed.

Page 104 ---- ,

Breeding. September to January. Observed in breeding ,- condition post-drought in 1983. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1 + • Sexing. Adults readily sexable on plumage, at least in Victoria. Size dimorphic, males larger. Some immatures can be sexed on measurements. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Mean S .0. No. of Mean S.D. Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 24 68.3 2. 12 27 62.1 1. 58 THL (mm) 24 44.6 1 .14 24 40.6 1. 25 Tail (mm) 19 61.0 1 .60 22 54.5 1. 97 Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) 43 9.6 13.7 40 8.8 12 . 9 NB. South Australian birds are reported to be much smaller. r Sexing Criteria. Given below on adult total head and wing lengths to assist sexing of immatures (for which insufficient data). NB. There is a possibility of seasonal changes in bill length (Richard Jordan, pers comm). Level Female Male Percent (% ) if Less if More Than Than Right Wrong Unsexed

Adult Wing (mm) 95 63 67 72.3 o . 3 27.4 Adult THL (mm) 95 4 1 • 6 43.8 77.3 o• 5 22.2 Sites. Mt Piper 34, 1 Toolangi 12,2 Coranderrk 37,1 Rotamah Island 3 , 0 st Andrews 3 , 0 TOTALS 89,4 NB. Information on South Australian birds was provided by Hugh Ford.

MISTLETOEBIRD, Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Size 1,AY. WP = 8=9. No. 564. Plumage and some soft part characters of different ages of south-eastern Queensland birds are described by Liddy (1984). We have used this data to supplement ours on Victorian birds. Outer (lOth) primary minute. Juv (J). Bill, orange. Upperparts, grey brown. Upper wing, grey brown. Throat and upper breast, off-white. Undertail coverts, pale scarlet. Immature Male (1 to 2-). Bill, black. Upperparts, mottled appearance due to brown fringes to blue contour feathers. Greater coverts, brown fringed blue. Secondary coverts, grey brown. Alula, brown. Buff terminal bands to uppertail coverts. Underparts, as adult male; but undertail coverts may be pale scarlet in younger birds. Immature Female (1). Bill, horn grey. Upperparts, grey brown. Upper wing, variable mixture of grey brown and blue grey feathers. Throat and upper breast, off-white. Undertail coverts pale scarlet.

Page 105

1 I r

Adult Male (2+). Bill, black. Upperparts, iridescent blue black. Chin, throat, upper breast, and under tail coverts, bright scarlet. Lower breast and abdomen, whitish with black streak down centre. Adult Female (1+). Bill; upper mandible, black; lower mandible, grey (Liddy 1984 reports dark horn grey). Upperparts, grey brown. Underparts, cream. Undertail coverts, pinkish. Moult. Not observed. However, one bird, possibly an immature female, was observed in December with a stopped primary moult and two ages of feather in the greater coverts. Breeding. Observed October to January. A bird nearly laid an egg in the bird bag. Ageing. The immature male described was caught in December and had worn primaries; it was presumably fledged the previous year and aged 2-. Accordingly, adult males will be aged 2+. We do not know if immature females can always be identified at this time, so adult females should be aged 1+. Sexing. Adults and immatures on plumage. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------_._---- Wing ( mm) 10 62 67 3 57 62 Tail (mm) 7 28 31 2 27 29 Weight ( g m) 12 8.3 10. 3 4 9 . 2 1 0 . 3 Sites. Mt Pip e r 1 3 , 2 Coranderrk 2 , 0 TOTALS 15,2

SPOTTED PARDALDTE, Pardalotus punctatus

Size 1, AV. WP ~ 7~8 (~9). No. 565. Where ranges overlap, this species can interbreed with Vellow-rumped Pardalote (P. zanthopygus). Rump colours vary in possible hybrids (Woinarski, 1984); chestnut in Spotted, yellow in vellow-rumped. Only nine primaries. Imm (1). Bill! black with small white base to lower mandible. Palate, pink whIte. Gape, cream, becoming white before decreasing in size. Buff white tips to crown feathers. Uppertail coverts, uniform orange brown. Older birds may have emergent adult crown feathers. Adult (1+). Bill and palate, as in immature. Gape, usually inconspicuous, white. Upperparts, grey brown spotted buff. Uppertail coverts, chestnut. Wings and tail, black with white spots. Breast and abdomen, buff brown. MALE: Crown feathers, black with white spot. Throat and undertail coverts, bright yellow. FEMALE: The crown feathers have a grey base and a yellow spot at the tip, surrounded by a black margin. Throat, cream. Undertail coverts, yellow. Moult. Adults, complete moult January to April. Immature body and tail moult observed in first year. Breeding. Usually September to January. Bred (with egg) post-drought in 1983. Immature birds observed in breeding condition. Both sexes develop large brood patches.

Page 106 .,

Ageing. Immature best told from adult female by buff-white tips to crown feathers; otherwise very similar. Note that aduTts have crown spots surrounded by a black border. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Adults and some immatures, on plumage. Not size dimorphic. Measurements. Any size difference between adults and immatures is undetectable. No. of Mean S.D Birds ------All birds - Wing (mm) 118 58.2 1.45 - THL (mm) 22 24.7 0.44 - Tail (mm) 56 29.9 1.72 Min Max

- Weight ( g m) 165 7.0 9 . 7 Sites. Mt Piper 153,6 Barmah 1,0 Coranderrk 6,0 Dandenong 4,0 TOTALS 164 , 6

STRIATED PARDALOTE, Pardalotus striatus

Size 1, AY. No. 976. Only nine primaries. Imm (lor 2-). Bill, black with a white base. Palate cream. Gape, cream fading to white. Eye, olive brown. Slightly paler than the adult, with an unstreaked olive-grey crown. Adult (2+). Bill, black. Gape, white but inconspicuous. Eye olive green. Crown, black with white streaks. Upperparts, olive grey. Tail, black tipped white. Eyebrow, bright yellow at front, white at rear. Throat, bright yellow. Underparts, buff white. Wing, black with white on leading ed~e to some primaries (NB. Number of primaries with white varles with race). Tips to primary coverts, red, orange or yellow depending on race. Moult. Adult, complete moult December to March. Partial post-juvenile body moult in first year. Breeding. September to February. Immatures observed in breeding condition. Both sexes develop large brood patches. Ageing. Traces of immature plumage retained in crown into second year, hence age 2- for these birds. Full adults aged 2+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Apparently sexable on cloaca in breeding condition. Measurements. No appreciable size difference between immatures and adults. No. 0 f Mean S.D Birds

ALL birds - Wing (mm) 126 65.9 1.63 - THL (mm) 31 27. 1 0.70 - Tail (mm) 57 34.4 1.47 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 193 9 • 4 14.2 i I Page 107 r ! I I I Sites. Mt Piper 169 , 1 Knowsley 9,0 Oandenong 1,0 Rotamah Island 1 , 1 Killawarra 4,0 Barmah 8 , 0 TOTALS 192,2

SILVEREYE, Zosterops lateralis

Size 1, AV. WP ~ 8(~7). No. 574. Considerable geographic variation and a number of races could make life difficult for the bander. Fortunately, they do not seem to differ in ageing and sexing characteristics. Unfortunately, they don't seem to have any - or at least not many. The description given beiow must be regarded as tentative. Only nine primaries. Imm (1). Bill, pale grey with paler base to lower mandible. Gape, yellow fading to flesh pink. Eye, olive green. Plumage, as adult. Adult (1+). Bill; upper mandible, dark grey; lower mandible, blue grey or creamy grey. Gape, grey. Eye hazel brown. Upperparts, olive green. Underparts, grey to white. Eyering, white. Colours of flanks (buff or brown) and throat (yellow or white) distinguish races (see Simpson and Oay 1984). Moult. Adult primary moult, January to April. Post-juvenile body moult in first year. Breeding. Usually, September to February. All birds with enlarged cloacas, presumably both males and females, also had brood patches. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence age 1+ for adults. Sexing. Sexes similar. Unknown if sexable on cloaca because of the lack of independent evidence to confirm our judgements. Not size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Mean S. D• Birds

All birds - Wing (mm) 148 61.5 1 .86 - THL (mm) 75 28.1 0.56 - Tail (mm) 142 46.5 1.77 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 196 9 .2 1 3 . 4 Note. The weight of one b i r d, caught four times, ranged from 11.4 gm to 11.8 gm. Sites. Mt Piper 9, 0 Barry Beach 1 , 0 Rotamah Island 36, 1 Wa 11 14, 0 Werribee 1 , 0 Big Billy Bore 4, 0 Coranderrk 98,20 st Andrews 20,1 TOTALS 183,22

EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH, Carduelis carduelis

Size 2, AV. No. 996. A beautiful finch of the coast and open countryside of south-eastern Australia. The description below is based largely on European experience.

Page 108 Juv (J). Bill, grey brown with lemon yellow cutting edges. Gape, pink. Forehead, off-white. Crown, nape, mantle, scapulars, back, and rump, mottled grey brown. Chin, throat, breast, and abdomen, buffish white. Flanks, pale rufous with grey streaks. Primaries, black with white tips, inner four with yellow bases to outer webs. Secondaries, black with white tips; outer ones have yellow bases to outer webs. Tertials, broadly tipped buff. Buff tips to lesser, median, and secondary coverts. Alula and primary coverts, black, untipped. Tail, black edged buff. Feet and legs, pinkish grey. Imm (1 to 2-). Bill, bone with yellow tip to lower mandible. Acquires red and black on head early in first year. Body feathers streaked brown and grey. Some (outer) secondary coverts retain buff tips which contrast with moulted adult yellow or white and yellow tips. Adult (2+). Bill, bone with slight black tip. Distinctive head pattern of red, white and black. Upperparts and flanks, brown. Underparts, off-white. Primaries and secondaries, black with band of brilliant yellow and white terminal spots. Secondary coverts tipped yellow or yellow and white. Tail, black, feathers tlppedl white. MALE: Red below eye extends behind the the line of the eye. Hairs at base of upper mandible, black. Lesser coverts, black or brown black. FEMALE: Red below eye does not extend behind line of eye. Hairs at base of upper mandible, generally blackish grey but may be paler. Lesser coverts tipped grey brown. Moult. Adult primary and body moult observed in Australia in March. Moult of immatures not observed. In Europe, there is a post fledging body moult and, in southern Europe, partial or complete moult of flight feathers. Complete post breeding moult. Breeding. Not observed. Only females develop brood patches. Ageing. Some immature characters retained into second year, hence adults aged 2+. Sexing. Adults on plumage. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. of Range Birds ------Min Max ------All birds - Wing (mm) 11 74 81 - THL (mm) 11 26.7 29.3 - Tail (mm) 9 46 51 - Weight ( g m) 14 12.6 17.2 Sites. Coranderrk 9 , 0 Mt Piper 5,0 TOTALS 14, 0 NB. This description was largely prepared by Anthony Roberts.

EUROPEAN GREENFINCH, Carduelis chloris

Size 3, AY. NO. 997. A touchy bird; can die unexpectedly when handled. Not as vicious as its beak would suggest. Imm (1 Autumn, 2- Spring). Olive brown plumage, streaked on upperparts and underparts. Alula, dull green. Yellow in wings and tail. Adult (2+ Autumn, 1+ Spring). Olive green plumage with brighter yellow green rump. Bright yellow patches on primaries and at sides of tail. MALE: Upperparts, unstreaked. Alula, bright yellow green. FEMALE: Ouller than male. Upperparts, faintly streaked. Less yellow in wings and tail than male. Alula, bright green.

Page 109 Moult. Not observed. Breeding. Not observed. Only females develop brood patches. Agein9' Immatures identifiable in autumn, hence adults aged 2+ at thls time. Identification of some immatures in spring following fledging may not be possible, hence age 1+ for all apparent adults in spring. Sexing. Adults can be sexed on plumage with experience. Sexable on brood patch in breeding condition. In Europe, slightly size dimorphic, males larger. Insufficient data to determine if this applies in Australia. Measurements. No. of Mean S.D. Birds

All birds - Wing (mm) 15 88.6 1. 93 - THL (mm) 15 30.8 1.22 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 28 2D.2 26.D Site. Seaford Swamp 29 , 0 NB. (1) This description was prepared by Anthony Roberts. ( 2 ) Seaford Swamp data provided by Berrice Dale.

HOUSE SPARROW, Passer domesticus

Size 3, AV. WP = 8=9. No. 995. A nasty aggressive little bird (although some people think they're cute). It should have been left in England, where it is still a nasty aggressive little bird. Imm (1). An obvious dull brown sprog (see footnote), similar to adult female but with yellow bill and obvious yellow gape. Adult Male (1+). Crown, dark grey, brown at sides. Ear coverts, greyish white. Upperparts, brown streaked black. Short white wing bar. Rump, grey. Throat, black. Rest of underparts, greyish white. Adult Female (1+). Duller than male. Crown, brown. Rump, brown. Throat, grey. Wing bar, indistinct. Moult. Both adults and immatures undergo complete moult December to March. Breeding. Observed November and December but probably over a longer period. Only females develop brood patches. Ageing. Oue to complete post juvenile moult, adults aged 1+ at all times. Sexing. Adults and some moulting immatures on plumage. Not size dimorphic.

Page 110 r~

Measurements. Adult Immature

No. 0 f Mean S•D• No. 0 f Mean S . D• Birds Birds

Wing (mm) 41 76 .8 2.19 15 72.8 2.51 THL (mm) 36 32.2 0.61 15 3D.9 1 .03 r Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) 45 23.9 3 1 • 6 15 1 9 . 1 28 .7 Sites. Heidelberg 24,14 Arthurs Creek 23,0 TOTALS 47 , 14 NB. Anthony Roberts assisted with the preparation of this description. Footnote. "Sprog" is a Jocular English nickname for sparrow. Ho, ho, h o , r TREE SPARROW, Passer montanus

Size 3, AV. No. 994. This description is based on European experience; not caught by us in Australia. On the wall of a banding hut in a British observatory is the warning, "Houdini was recreated as a Tree Sparrow ll • Imm (1). Similar to adult but with dull brown crown. Adult (1+). Crown, bright chestnut brown. Generally anonymous plumage with black spot in white ear coverts and black chin and throat. Fine double white wing bar. Moult. Not observed in Australia. In Europe, there are complete post juvenile and post breeding moults: adults moult slightly later than immatures. Breeding. Not observed. Only females develop brood patches. Ageing. Unknown when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1 + • Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Sexable on brood patch in breeding condition. Measurements. NB• From Australian museum specimens.

No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

Adult - Wing (mm) 9 65 73 Sites. Not caught. NB. This description was prepared by Anthony Roberts

Page 111 RED-BRO.EO FIRETAIL, Emblema temporalis

Size 1, AV. WP = 7(=6,=8). No. 662. A robust bird. Easy mist net extraction. Large diurnal weight changes. outer primary almost invisible. Juv (J). Bill, black. Gape, cream, very large. Eye, dark muddy brown. No red eyebrow. Uniform dark grey plumage with red rump. Imm (1). Bill; sides, red; top and bottom, black. Eye, brown becoming redder with age. Eyebrow, faint becoming bold. otherwise, plumage as adult. Adult (1+). Bill, mostly red with black stripe on top and bottom. Eye, crimson. Eyebrow, bright red. Mantle, yellow olive. Back and upper rump, olive. Lower rump and upper tail coverts! bright red. Tail, dark grey. Flight feathers, grey with ollve edges. Underparts, buffy grey. Moult. Immature: Complete post-juvenile moult. Adult: complete moult January to April, usually in sequence primaries, rest of wing and body, tail. Considerable variation between individuals. Primary moult often unconventional. Breeding. September to December. Both sexes (on cloaca) develop brood patches. Ageing. Juvenile plumage lost within one and three months of fledging (from re-traps). Period over which immature characters retained not established, but less than one year, hence age 1+ for adults. Sexing. Sexes similar. Not size dimorphic. Difficult to sex on cloaca. A very few birds show red on leading edges to coverts. This awaits an explanation. There appears to be variation between birds in the width and length of the red eyebrow. This may (or may not) be related to sex and is difficult to record consistently. Measurements. Adu It Immature

!i No. of Mean 5 .0. No. 0 f Mean S.D. iii Birds Birds II i! Wing (mm) 139 54.0 1 .41 86 53.7 1. 40 THL (mm) 79 23.6 o.51 76 23.0 o .47 Tail (mm) 84 48.4 1.84 97 47.6 2.26 Min Max Min Max

Weight (gm) 589 9.3 14. 6 257 8 . 7 1 2 . 0 Note. The weight of one bird, caught five times, ranged from 10.9 gm to 14.5 gm, heavier in the evening. Sites. Mt Piper 13,7 Coranderrk 562,249 Barmah 6, 0 Rotamah Island B , 1 TOTALS 589,257

DIAMOND FIRETAIL, Emblema guttata

Size 2(1), AV. WP = 8. No. 652. We have found that size 2 bands give a better fit than the size 1 bands suggested by the Banding Scheme as an alternative. Outer primary almost invisible.

Page 112 Imm (1). Bill, varies from black with a red tinge to red with a black tinge. Gape, yellow sometimes with an orange tinge. Eye, brown to red brown. Eye ring, pink. Lores, dark grey or black. Crown, grey. Upperparts, olive grey. Rump and upper tail coverts, bright red, possibly duller than in adults, and sometimes with brown juvenile feathers remaining. Underparts, whitish. Breast band, greyish to brown with black adult feathers appearing. Flanks, scalloped brownish; white spots appearing in older birds. Adult (1+). Bill, bright red. Gape whitish-brown. Eye, red. Eye ring, pink. Lores, black. Head, grey. Back, grey brown. Rump and upper tail coverts, bright red. Flanks, black with bold white spots. Broad black breast band. Chin, throat, and rest of underparts, white. Moult. Adults, complete moult, November to March. Slight body moult of immatures observed in December and January. Breeding. September to December. Both sexes (on cloaca) develop brood patches. Ageing. Adult plumage obtained within first year, hence adults aged 1+. Possibly, immatures are ageable on primary wear into their second year, in which case adults will be aged 2+. Sexing. Sexable on cloaca in breeding condition. The theory (eg Immelman 1982) that females have brown lores and males black lores may well be duff gen (see footnote). We have caught 68 adult birds; all had black lores. The male may have a broader breast band. More and better measurements needed to test this. A fairly consistent measurement can be taken if the bird is laid on its back and its head held with the bill sticking up vertically. Requires two people. Not size dimorphic. Measurements. No indication that immatures measurably smaller than adults. No. 0 f Mean S.D Birds

All birds - Wing (mm) 35 67.9 1.95 - THL (mm) 21 25. 1 0.62 - Tail (mm) 32 39.3 1.35 Min Max

- Weight (gm) 98 15 . 1 22.7 Note. The weight of one bird, caught four times, ranged from 16.5 gm in the morning to 18.8 gm in the afternoon. Sites. Knowsley 40,3 Wail 3, a Mt Piper 24,1 Killawarra 34, 3 Totals 101,7 Footnote. "Duff gen" is a technical birding term meaning of , doubtful veracity (Oddie 1980). /

ZEBRA FINCH, Poephila guttata

Size 2, AV. WP = 8=7(=6). No. 653. Some people think that these are the only birds worth studying. Nestlings may be banded after 8 days from hatching but no later than 15 days or premature fledging and death results. Tenth primary almost invisible.

Page 113 r i

Juv (1). Bill, black, may have cream base. Gape, cream to white. Palate, cream yellow with prominent black spots in throat. Eye, grey green to grey brown. Lores, grey becoming cream bounded by a faint vertical black stripe at the base of the bill and a similar one below the eye. Upperparts, dark to mid grey with brown fringes to wing feathers. Rump, black with a broad cream white central stripe. Uppertail coverts, boldly barred black and white. Tail, black. Throat and upper breast, grey. Remaining underparts, buff cream becoming whiter. Legs, cream to pale yellow. Imm (1). Bill, black with orange red base; orange red more extensive in older birds. Gape, cream to pale grey. Palate, cream yellow with prominent throat spots fading slowly. Eye, brown to brown red. Adult plumage characters appear gradually, allowing older birds to be sexed. Legs, yellow to pale orange. Adult (1+). Gape, grey. Palate, yellow with faint or absent throat spots. Eye, bright brick red. Crown, nape, back and wings, grey. Rump, black with broad white central stripe. Tail, black with central feathers boldly barred white. Lares, white bounded by vertical black stripe at base of bill and another below the eye. MALE: Bill, bright red. Ear patch, chestnut. Throat, chin and upper breast, grey with fine black bars. Prominent black band divides upper breast from white abdomen. Flanks, chestnut with white spots. Legs, orange. FEMALE: Bill, orange to orange red. Ear coverts, grey; no chestnut ear patch. No breast bars or flank markings. Throat and breast, grey. Remaining underparts, cream. Legs may be paler than the male. Moult. Adults have slow continuous primary and secondary moult which is not suspended during breeding. Immatures commence wing moult at 80 days. A full primary moult takes 230 to 240 days (Zann 1984). Breeding. Almost continuously from September to April with some pairs raising up to six broods.

I I' Ageing. Juvenile characters lost by 35 days after hatching. Adult plumage acquired within 100 days of hatching, hence adults aged 1+. The eye may take longer to reach full brick red colour, I. possibly enabling ageing beyond 1+.

I, ('; Sexing. Adults and immatures over 40 days old on plumage. Females may acquire full plumage in as few as 55 days, males in 70 days. In the male, throat and breast bars appear first followed by ear patch and flank markings. Females identifiable by the absence of any emergent male characters. Not known if size dimorphic. Measurements. No. 0 f Mean S .0. Birds

Adult - Wing (mm) 45 56.6 2.02 - THL (mm) 35 22.8 0.74 '. - Tail (mm) 23 33.6 2.13 .1 'j, !i Min Max , i! I' ,I, - Weight (gm) 86 10.4 1 5 . 6

I Site. Shepparton Oistrict 210,700 NB. Richard Zann provided some of the information for this species.

Page 114

, L..-. _ COMMON STARLING, Sturnus vUlgaris

Size 6, AY. WP = 9. No. 999. An unfortunate introduction. Noisy, messy and aggressive. May displace native birds by using their nesting holes. Reputed to be a difficult mist net extraction.

Juv (J). Nearly uniform dull brown; underparts paler, unspotted. Throat, whitish. Imm (1 to 2-). Bill, very dark grey. Acquires adult plumage in first year. MALE: Short round throat feathers with black portion 11 mm or less (in Europe). FEMALE: May have white rounded tip on mantle feathers. Len~th of black portion of throat feathers overlaps with adult; lmmature if not greater than 6 mm. Adult Breeding (1+ or 2+). Plumage, iridescent mainly black plumage with green and purple tints and with paler spots. MALE: Bill, yellow with slate gey base to lower mandible. Eye, uniform dark brown. Black portion of throat feathers greater than 12 mm (in Europe). FEMALE: Bill, yellow with pink base to lower mandible. Eye, brown with buffy white outer ring. Black portion of throat feathers greater than 9 mm (in Europe). Adult Eclipse (1+ or 2+). Bill, dull black (both sexes). Otherwise as breeding, except pale spots in plumage are more conspicuous. Moult. Complete post juvenile moult. Complete post breeding moult. Breeding. Observed September to Oecember. Ageing. Young immatures readily identifiable on plumage. After post juvenile moult, most males and some females can be aged on throat feathers. Bird is adult if black portion of throat feathers 9 mm or more. In spring it may not be possible to age females. NB. Throat feather measurements on the small sample of Australian Starlings are consistent with those from Europe. More data is needed to establish the generality or otherwise of this. Sexing. Eye colour can be used to sex all birds which have completed post juvenile moult. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female

No. 0 f Range No. 0 f Range Birds Birds Min Max Min Max

Wing (mm) 11 125 135 6 124 129 THL (mm) 11 52.8 55.7 6 51.9 55 • 4 Tail (mm) 4 60 66 n. a. Weight (gm) 16 80 92 7 70 81 Sites. Heidelberg 1 4 , 5 Arthurs Creek 6,0 Emerald 1,0 Seaford 1,0 TOTALS 22,5 NB. This description was largely prepared by Anthony Roberts

Page 115 OLIVE-BACKED ORIOLE, Oriolus sagittatus

Size 6, AV. WP = 7(=8,=6). No. 671. Imm (lor 2-). Bill; upper mandible, pinkish black; lower mandible, pinkish grey. Gape, dirty pink. Palate, pink. Eye, dark brown with light brown outer ring. Crown, greenish, streaked black at front, brownish at rear. Nape and mantle, olive lightly streaked black. Upper back, greyish. Lower back and rump, olive green. Primaries, ~rey. All wing coverts, fringed buff. Underparts, dirty whlte, streaked brown from throat to lower breast and on flanks. Abdomen, mostly white with very light streaks. Legs, grey. (NB This description applies to a bird aged as 2-.) Adult Male (2+). Bill, deep pink. Eye, red. Crown, olive green streaked dull black. Nape and mantle, olive green. Back, olive green streaked black. Primaries and secondaries, dark g~ey. No buff fringes to wing coverts. Tail, ~rey with white t 1 P• Underparts, white with black streaks thinnlng out towards tall ; throat and upper breast, washed olive green. Adult Female (2+). As adult male, but bill duller pink and much reduced amount of green on throat and upper breast. No buff fringes to wing coverts. Moult. Not observed. The immature caught had very worn primaries and tail suggesting that immatures do not moult primaries and tail until or after the spring following fledging. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. The immature described above was caught in November. It was aged 2- on a number of characters, including very worn primaries and tail feathers. Asssigning age 2+ to adults assumes that all immatures will be identifiable into their second year. Sexing. Adults on plumage and soft parts. Unknown if size dimorphic. (NB Adult plumage descriptions taken from museum specimens; the literature is confusing and contradictory.) Measurements. Adu it Immature ------No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 3 151 158 3 150 159 THL (mm) 3 61.6 62 . 0 3 59.5 60.5 Tall ( mm) n. a. 1 112 Weight (gm) 3 91 104 1 84 Sites. Jamieson 5,0 Killawarra 1,0 TOTALS 6,0

IHITE-BROIED IOODSIALLOI Artamus superciliosus

Size 5, AM. WP = 9. No. 545. A size 5 band is recommended by Banding Scheme; we have found that a size 4 gives a better fit. One of the most beautiful birds in the hand you are ever likely to catch. Outer primary very small, visible from underside of wing. JUY (J). Bill, brown with faint black tip. Palate yellow. Gape, cream. Eye, olive green. Lores, black. Upper wing coverts, all have V-shaped (notched) white tips. No white tip to tail. Fine white notching on feathers of upper breast. Downy grey abdomen and undertail coverts. Imm (1). Not caught.

Page 116 , ~- Adult (1+). Bill, blue with black tip. Gape, blue. Eye, dark brown. Eyebrow, white. MALE: Upperparts, deep blue grey, darker on head. Chin, throat, and upper breast, deep blue grey. Rest of underparts, rich chestnut. FEMALE: Paler grey. Smaller eyebrow. Underparts, pinkish rufous (but almost impossible to describe) where males are rich chestnut. Moult. Adult primary moult starts late November. Breeding. Observed in breeding condition, November to January. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+. Some unexplained changes in eye colour from dark brown to orange yellow brown. Sexing Adults on plumage. Possibly size dimorphic with males larger. Measurements. Adult Male Adult Female No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max ------Wing (mm) 4 127 131 2 122 124 t- THL (mm) 4 43.6 44.3 2 42.5 44.4 Weight ( g m) 4 36.2 39.3 2 34.4 36.5 Sites. Mt Piper 5 , 0 Killawarra 2,0 TOTALS 7 , 0

DUSKY WDODSWALLOW, Artamus cyanopterus

Size 5, AM. WP = B=9. No. 547. A little beauty. Outer primary very small, visible from underside of wing. Juv (J). Bill, mauve base, yellow middle, dark grey tip. Palate and gape, bright yellow. Eye, olive brown. Upperparts, streaked. Crown and back feathers, black with whitish shafts and brown central tips. White on some primaries (best distinguishing characteristic from juvenile White-browed Woodswallow, A. superciliosus). Feathers of greater and median coverts, tertials and tail have blackish tips with brown centres to tips. Underparts,l streaked off-white and greyish brown. Imm (1). Bill, mauve with dark ~rey tip (some yellow may show in middle). Gape and palate, Whltish. Eye, olive brown. Body may look streaked as dark brown body feathers have white shafts. Secondary and lesser coverts have black tips with white centres to tips. Last traces of juvenile plumage apparently retained in head feathers. , Adult (1+). Bill, blue with black tip. Eye, dark red brown / to chocolate brown. Upperparts and underparts, grey brown. Wings, blue black with white leading edges to some primaries. The number of primaries with white varies for reasons unknown. Moult. Adult primary moult observed Oecember to March. Immature body moult observed in March. Breeding. Usually September to January, but bred (caught with egg) post drought in 19B3. Ageing. It seems most likely that adults are aged 2+ but no returning spring birds have been found with traces of immature plumage to support this. More work on eye colour may enable more precise ageing. Until resolved, adults should be aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic females larger. Insufficient data to establish sexing criterion.

Page 117 ------"'"'1

Measurements. Adult Immature No. of Range No. of Range Birds ------Birds ------Min Max Min Max - ~------~--- Wing (mm) 26 121 133 9 119 132 THL (mm) 26 36.4 39.4 9 36.3 38.5 Tail (mm) 17 66 78 9 66 76 Weight (gm) 26 31.0 46.4 10 31 .4 37.9 Sites. Mt Piper 4 , 0 Arthurs Creek 2,0 Knowsley 18,2 Barmah 1,0 Coranderrk 3,0 Killawarra 5 , 0 TOTALS 33,2

GREY BUTCHERBIRD, Cracticus tcrquatus

Size 6, IN. WP = 7. No. 702. A simply ripping bird - flesh ripping. Deal with in the same manner as Shrike-tit, but with greater respect. That's the view of one author; ancther finds them relatively safe - obvious dangers are more easily avoided. I.m (1). Bill, dark grey with pale base to lower mandible. Gape, grey pink. Eye, chocolate brown. Crown and nape, dark brown with fine buff streakings. Buff streaking on face and above the eye. Buff fringes to coverts secondaries and most back feathers. White leading edges to three secondaries form a wing bar. Wing, buff brown with buff leading edges to primaries. Breast and underparts, mottled pale ~rey and cream. Underwing feathers have dark grey edges and whIte centres washed cream. Adult (1+). Bill, black tip, Qrey base. Eye, brown. Lores, pale grey. Crown and cheeks, Jet black. Collar! white. Upperparts, grey. Rump, white. Wings, black wIth white wing bar. Underparts, white washed pale grey. Tail, black tipped white. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. No information, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Pizzey, 1980 reports adult female crown somewhat browner than male. Unknown if size dimorphic. Measurements. Two birds only. Wing THL Tail Weight ( mm) ( mm) ( mm) ( g m) ------Imm 142 72.5 109 94 Adult 152 72.8 115 90 Sites.

Bendigo Whipstick 1,0 Big Billy 80re 1 ,0 TOTALS 2 , 0

BLACK CURRAWDNG, Strepera fuliginosa

Size 9, SS. WP = 6. No. 696. An endemic Tasmanian bird of the highlands and islands. Imm (1). Gape, yellow. Eye, orange yellow. Generally black plumage may show a brownish wash.

Page 118 ------._------_.._------~

Adult (1+). Gape, black. Eye, bright yellow. Plumage, black with white patch in wing and white tip to tail. Moult. Not observed. Breeding. September to December. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Size dimorphic, males larger. Measurements. NB. From museum specimens. Male Female

No. 0 f Range No. 0 f Range Birds Birds Min Max Min Max

Wing (mm) 11 251 283 8 248 269 Sites. Not available. NB. This description was prepared by David Henderson and Bob Green. v

GREY CURRAWONG, Strepera versicolor

Size 10,55. WP : 6:7. No. 697. Beware of the stiletto-like hind claw. Imm (1). Bill, black. Gape, yellow and very conspicuous. Eye, brown with yellow outer ring. Head, grey brown with grey feathers appearing on top of crown and around eye. Rest of upperparts, grey with some juvenile grey brown feathers remaining. All flight feathers, black with broad grey leading edges and white tips. Primary, secondary, and median coverts and alula, grey with white tips, themselves tipped buff. Lesser coverts, grey. Throat and breast, light brown. Abdomen and undertail coverts, light grey. Adult (1+). Bill, black. Gape, black. Eye, yellow. Plumage very variable geographically. Nominate race is generally grey with white patch in wing, white undertail coverts, and white tips to flight and tail feathers. The western Victorian race is very dark grey and lacks the white wing patch. Moult. Adult primary moult observed in October. Breeding. Not observed. Ageing. Not known when adult plumage acquired, hence adults aged 1+. Sexing. Sexes similar. Males reported larger. Measurements. Literature reports geographical size variations.

No. 0 f Range Birds Min Max

All birds - Wing (mm) 4 260 289 - THL (mm) 5 96.3 110 . 3 - Tail (mm) 5 200 236 - Weight (gm) 3 315 380 Sites. Bendi~o Whipstick 2 , a Coranderrk 1 ,0 st Andrews 1,0 Big Bllly Bore 1 , 0 TOTALS 5 , a

Page 119 Page 120 APPENDIX A BANDING SCHEME AGE CODES INTRODUCTION

The main purpose of this appendix is to place the Banding Scheme I s age code in Bander's Aid for the convenience of banders. A second~ry purpose is to discuss the few difficulties that banders may have with the code. CALENDAR AGE The age codes record what is known of the calendar age of a bird. They imply nothing about the bird's biological age. This applies also to the labels we have attached in Bander's Aid to the different age groups. This may cause difficulties for some who use the same terms to imply something biological. A full adult is to us a bird which has acquired the plumage and soft parts which, unless it goes into an eclipse condition, it will retain for the rest of its life. People often use the terms immature and juvenile indiscriminately to describe young birds. This can be confusing when ageing bush birds and it would be better if banders were to use the age codes exclusively to describe calendar age. 1- fOR NOTHING AT ALL Some banders persist in trying to age young birds as 1-. This is the one combination of number and sign which is not permitted under the a~e code system. It is incomprehensible. How can a bird be in lts first year or younger? (The story is, however, told of a bander who placed a band on a solitary leg sticking out of a single hole in an otherwise unbroken egg; maybe he could have used this code with some justification.) P fOR PULL US The code P for Pullus is for birds which are unable to fly. They mayor may not have fledged. It is used for nestlings and runners. It does not of course apply to adult emus and the like. When used, this code implies little uncertainty concerning the location of the nest and the time of hatching. J fOR JUVENILE The code J for Juvenile is for young birds in juvenile plumage which have left the nest site and are able to fly. As birds lose their juvenile plumage gradually, albeit over a fairly short period, the bander may occasionally have difficulty in deciding whether a particular bird should be aged as a juvenile or as an immature. The purpose of the J code is to pin down as accurately as possible when the bird was fledged. If the bander remembers this, he will usually have little difficulty in deciding which code is appropriate. It is a good idea to record the percentage of juvenile plumage, even if the bird is aged as an immature; the age code can then be reviewed in the light of information gained later. 1+ fOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING There are three circumstances under which a bird can be aged 1+: - its age is completely unknown (ie what used to be called Free-Flying); it is known to be a full adult but the time to acquisition of adult plumage is not known; - it is known to be a full adult and that this plumage is acquired within one year of hatching. The bander should ALWAYS note which of these possibilities applies when using the 1+ code.

Page 121 0005 AND SODS The same age code does not necessarily apply at all times of the year. Bander's Aid has many examples. The fact that an adult bird is aged 2+ in the autumn and 1+ in the following spring does not mean that it is growing younger. It means that all characters which identify an immature bird as being in its first year are lost before itis a year old. Adult birds are therefore indistinguishable from birds fledged the previous spring. Occasionally, it may be possible to put both a lower and an upper limit on a bird's age, eg it might be between its third and fifth years. This can only properly be recorded with two age codes, 3. and 5-. If a choice has to be made, the upper limit, 5-, is probably the more useful code. Different age codes may apply, for all we know, to the same species at the same time of year in different parts of the country. AGE 'CODES The Banding Scheme's age code system is summarised below. P = Pullus. A young bird, either in the nest or out of the nest which, although it may be fledged, is not yet able to fly. J = Juvenile. A young bird in juvenile plumage, which has left the nest site and is able to fly. 1 = 1st year. A bird within its first year of life i.e. it was hatched less than one year ago. 1+ = 1st year or older. A bird within its first year of life or older l.e. it is a free flying bird of unknown age. 2 = 2nd year. A bird within its second year of life. 2+ = 2nd year or older. A bird within its second year of life or older.

2- = 2nd year or younger. A bird within its second year of life or younger i.e. it is within its first or second year of 1 i f e • 3 = 3rd year. A bird within its third year of life. 3+ = 3rd year or older. A bird within its third year of life or older.

3- = 3rd year or younger. A bird within its third year of life or younger. and so on to whatever age is required.

Page 122 ,I:, APPENDIX B STATISTICAL NDTES INTRDDUCTIDN The purpose of this appendix is to help the non-statistician understand the principl'es that apply to the interpretation of measurement data on birds. It is hoped that it will encourage them to provide good numerical data to the Banding Scheme for analysis by those who like doing that sort of thing. The appendix discusses the concepts behind the analytical techniques, not the techniques themselves. It addresses two areas; first, Means, Standard Deviations and Ranges, and second, Size Dimorphism. Past issues of Corella contain some useful papers on the more technical aspects. These and any standard statistical texts could be consulted by those who wish to learn more of the nitty gritty. First, a comment on what statistics is. Statistics is a branch of mathematics which is mocked, derided, used and misused and regarded by many as more of a hindrance than a help. This is however an unfortunate reputation as its precepts are quite clear. Statistics is a means of understanding and describing the properties of a set of numerical data. It provides a number of techniques to help the analyst to do this. The important point is that they help the analyst, they don't do it for him. They are in no way a substitute for thought and, happily, one does not have to be a statistician to be able to think. And, of course, bein~ a statistician doesn't prove that one can think. A famous statlstician once said of another, "He uses statistics as a drunk uses a lamp post - for support'rather than illumination". There are several measurements that a bander can take on an individual bird. These include: - wing length - wing span - body length - tail length - tarsal length - total head length - bill length - bill curvature - bill width and depth - weight There is really only one reason for measuring a bird - to find out how large it is. There are any number of ways in which bird measurements can be used, the limit is set more by the imagination of the analyst than by anything else. Applications include but are certainly not limited to: - moult studies - migration studies - feeding studies - energy studies - geographical variation studies - ecological and niche studies size dimorphism studies. The measurements a bander will take will depend on, amongst other things, whether he is working on a specific project or whether he is providing general data for the Banding Scheme. Previous work may indicate the most useful measurements for a particular study and purpose. In the absence of any such information, the more measurements that can be taken (without of course harming the bird) the better. MEANS, STANDARD DEVIATIDNS, AND RANGES A series of wing length measurements, say, on a species will show some variation, often considerable, about some central value. Figure B.l shows how these measurements can be represented as a histogram. The histogram shows the number of birds caught for each wing length recorded. The central value about which the observations vary is known as the mean or average. (The data shown are completely hypothetical. Rarely, if ever will observations conform to such perfection in practice.)l

Page 123 r•

The further e wing length is from the mean, the smaller will be the number of birds observed with that wing length. The dispersion of observations about the mean is measured by the Standard Deviation. For a given mean, the higher the standard deviation, the greater will be the difference between the smallest and largest wing lengths observed, in other words the range of observations will be larger. Range is a measure more readily understood by non-statisticians and some may argue that, for this reason, it is a more useful meesure for the average bander than standard deviation. In general this is not so as observed ranges can be misleading. With the best will in the world, banders can take inaccurate measurements. Inaccurate measurements have a greater chance of being the smallest or largest observations (and hence of defining the range incorrectly) than do accurate measurements. The standard deviation incorporates all the measurements taken and is therefore much less sensitive to the occasional inaccurate observation. Ranges are most useful when the sample size is small and the standard deviation cannot be estimated accurately or where it is known or suspected that size dimorphic groups are represented in the data. The difficUlty with standard deviation (S.D.) is that many people do not know what it means. Generally, observations will fall into a pattern that is known as the Normal Distribution. This is shown in Figure B.l as the continuous bell shaped curve. Where the data follow this pattern (which is common for bird measurement data), standard deviation has a simple explanation: - 68 % of observations will fall within 1 S.D. of the mean, - 95 % of observations will fall within 2 S.D.s of the mean, - 99.7 % of observations will fall within 3 S.D.s of the mean. Standard deviation can be used to determine if a particular observation can reasonably be expected. Very large and very small observations, which may be very unlikely, do occur in practice and may require special treatment in analysis. SIZE DIMORPHISM For many species, one sex (or age group or sub-species) may be larger on average than the other, ie the species is sex size dimorphic. (Size dimorphic simply means of different sizes. Unless the sense is clear, a qualifying adjective is required to indicate what the size varies with.) If the sexes look the same, determining how big the two sexes are and if a sex can be assigned to an individual bird on the basis of its measurements can be a problem. Figure B.2 shows (again with hypothetical data) the histogram of wing lengths for a sex size dimorphic species. This has a double humped appearance owing to the overlap in the wing lengths of the sexes. With some difficUlty, this histogram can be unscrambled to give the two normal distribution curves shown in Figure B.3. The probability that a bird with a given wing length is from the larger sex can be determined using these theoretical curves. With additional information, say from cloacal examination of birds in breeding condition or from the examination of sexed specimens, it may be determined that males of this species (say) are larger than females. If the probability that a bird is a male is sUfficiently large or small, its sex can be assigned with a high level of confidence. A sex cannot however be assigned with equal confidence to all birds. A bird with a wing length corresponding to the point where the two curves cross is equally as likely to be a male as a female, ie it has a 50% chance of being from either sex - not very good odds. With increasing wing length the probability of a bird being a male increases (and vice versa). When this probability exceeds some high but arbitrary level, a sex can be assigned with at least this level of confidence. (We have chosen 95% in presenting our results.)

Page 124 There is always a possibility that a sex assigned on this basis is incorrect as a small number of females, sa Y will have very large wing len~ths. The lower the critical confI dence level, the higher wIll be the number of birds to which a sex is assigned but, at the same time, the higher will be the number of birds to which the wrong sex is assigned. Figure 8.3 illustrates the sexing criterion and its interpretation. Analytical methods for separating double humped histograms are reviewed by Day (1969). A practical analytical method is described by MacDonald and Pritcher (1979). A graphical method is presented by Rogers (1976). One final point. Many people studying size dimorphic species seek to calculate a single critical value above which a bird is a male and below which it is a female. This critical value is like the alchemist's gold; it does not exist - except for a very, very few species. The foregoing discussion should have made this clear. At the same time there is a critical value above which a bird is more likely to be a male and below which it is more likely to be a female. This measure cannot be used for sexing individual birds but it can be used, and used properly, to determine the sex ratio in a bird popUlation.

/"

Page 125 Fig. 81 ' 8lue- tailed waghorn

I/) .§ -...~ ~ o '15 o z

Wing length

Fig. 82' Wagtail bluehorn

I/) c .2 1;; ...> ~ o -o zo

Wing length

Fig. 83' Sexing criterion I/) (J) rj' sexed as rj' I/) .0o '0 zci

Wing length

Page 126 r

I APPENDIX C MOULT Feathers form about 10% of the weight of a small passerine (Ginn and Melville 1983). The feathers of a bird wear, fade and become more brittle from the constant movement, abrasion and exposure to sunlight that occur in.the normal course of its life. This can be observed on the bird in the hand. Most birds replace their entire plumaqe every year by the process known as moult. Moult is an essentlal part of a bird's life as it allows the bird to maintain the condition, insulating capacity, and colour of its plumage. Condition is essential for flight; insulating capacity is necessary for conserving energy; colour is important in many species for displays, social behaviour and camouflage. Ecological Importance of Moult Moult places heavy energetic stresses on birds. They need proteins and various minerals for feather production. Additional energy is needed for heat generation (required as feather loss impairs the insulation of the plumage) and flight (since gaps in the wing probably affect aerodynamic efficiency). The annual cycle of a bird cannot be understood properly without a knowledge of its moult strategy. Oespite the importance of moult, few studies have been made of it in Australian bush birds. Exceptions include Paton (1982a, 1982b), Zann (1984), Swanson (1971), Ford (1980), and Middleton (1969). These studies show no unifying pattern. Zann's Zebra Finches had an almost continuous primary moult, taking 230 to 240 days for individual birds. The population moult of the Red-browed Firetails we have s·tudied is less than 120 days. We have caught a White's Thrush moulting at astonishing speed. Although in active primary moult, the bird had moulted all its secondaries almost simultaneously (although the differences in pin lengths showed this to have been no accident). The bird's ability to fly must have been affected and we presume that it climbed into the mist net. Little is known of the mechanisms which initiate and control moult. When moult studies had only been done in the Palearctic, it was often assumed that moult was controlled by reproductive hormones. There, the birds finish breeding and then moult before the onset of winter. For many species outside the Palearctic this theory does not hold up. For example, some penguins undergo a swift moult during incubation. In the tropics, some species have been found to start their moult long before they finish breeding. (One of these is the House Sparrow which moults after breeding in Britain.) In the 1983 drought, we banded Yellow-tufted and Fuscous Honeyeaters which were moulting two months earlier than they do in "normal" years. Interestingly, the birds did not go into breeding condition in the drought year before starting moult, although this is normal in non-drought years. In many parts of Australia, there is generally a longer period during which breeding and moult are possible. The climate is less harsh than that of northern Europe. It varies more between years and annual patterns are often less predictable. So-called "opportunistic breeding" is not uncommon in Australian birds/ particularly in arid areas. These factors make moult and its relationship to other annual functions an interesting area for study. A Plea Much remains to be learnt about the sequences of moult in Australian birds. Only by detailed examination and recording of moult details on live birds will we learn how moult sequences change with age, sex, season or from year to year. It only takes a little practice to learn how to record this information quickly and accurately. Museum specimens are not good for the purpose; they tend to be rigid and uncooperative and re-trap rates are very low.

Page 127 Moult information is essential to understanding how Australian birds have adapted to their often difficult and variable environment. We would encourage all banders to incorporate the study of moult in their banding projects. Those who are interested in learning more of moult are advised to read Ginn and Melville (1984) which gives an excellent introduction to the subject. Newton (1966) gives an excellent analyis of the moult strategy of one species. Moult and Ageing The sequence and timing of the moult of individual feather tracts of a species, ie the moult strategy, can differ with the age of a bird, its time of fledging, geographical distribution, and possibly sex. Knowledge of the moult strategy of a species can assist in ageing individual birds in the absence of other clues. Some examples of the type of thing to look for are given below. In many Victorian species in summer, birds fledged in the preceding spring have fresh primaries while adults have old, worn ones; they may be starting to moult them. If the immatures undergo a primary moult in their first summer and autumn, by the following spring, immatures and adults may be indistinguishable as the feathers of both will be equally worn. Sometimes, immature birds do not moult their primaries until their second summer/autumn, at about the same time as adults. At this time, they can be identified by their very abraded and faded primaries (and tail feathers in some instances), which will have had about eighteen months of wear. The young of some species undergo a body and covert moult into adult plumage within two or three months of fledging. This makes them difficult to distinguish from adult birds. Often, however, not all the greater coverts are moulted. Sometimes, the secondary coverts are retained. Young birds can readily be identified when as is often the case, the juvenile coverts are marked differently from those of adult birds. Moult Sequences Despite the differences in moult strategy between species, there are general patterns of moult which occur in most birds; for instance, the majority of birds studied so far moult their primaries starting with the innermost (first) primary and proceeding outwards in sequence towards the wing-tip. (We have called this sequence "conventional" primary moult throughout Bander's Aid, and departures from it "unconventional".) It is commonly observed that as a conventional primary moult progresses, there are fewer feathers in active moult. Also, pointed winged birds (eg. woodswallows) tend to moult fewer primaries at a time than do rounded winged birds (eg. scrub-wrens). Secondary moult generally starts with the outermost secondary, often when primary moult is about half completed, and proceeds towards the innermost secondary. Departures from this sequence are fairly common. The normal sequence for tail moult is from the innermost pair of tail feathers outwards. There are exceptions. The Peaceful Dove usually moults in the reverse sequence. Little information is available on the sequence in which other feather tracts moult in Australian birds. The primaries are generally the largest feathers on a bird and are the most easily studied. The moult of these feathers has received far more attention than have other tracts and are often used as a proxy for all moult. How well advised this is we do not know. Secondary and tail moult can be described in the same way as primary moult. Identification of moult sequences on the bird in the hand requires the bander to be able to identify the different relative ages of feathers in the wing. This can most readily be done by noticing

Page 128 ttle differerlces ill colour of the differsilt feathers. New feathers ~re generally darker and glossIer tllall are older featt\ers. featller wear is also a lJseful clue but different Feathers C811 SllOW different amourlts of wear depending on their posltiol' In tl,e wing and the life style of the bird. Colour can also va~y with feather position. In the following table, we SllOW tIle moult Formula for a number of seqlJences. We use the nUlnbef codes described in Chapter 3 to describe actively moulting feathers and the following symbols to indicate feather ages of flJlly grown feathers: N - New S - Slightly worn V - Very worn o - Old We suggest the use of the term "stopped moult" for a wing in which there are two or more ages of feather but no active moult. The current convention is to call this condition "suspended" or "arrested ". These terms properly refer to how the moult re-starts and there is no way of knowing this unless the bird is re-trapped. A suspended moult is one in which the conventional moult is recommenced from the point of interruption after a moult has stopped. An arrested moult is one in which a conventional moult has started, at the innermost primary, after the preceding moult was stopped. A partial moult is one in which the feathers moult in conventional sequence but the moult does not start at the innermost primary. A step-Wise moult is one in which a second conventional moult is started before the previous moult is complete. It is reportedly common in raptors in the Palearctic. Centrifugal moult is when the moult starts in the middle of the wing and progresses simUltaneously in both directions. This is common in Australian parrots (Forshaw 1981b). Centripetal moult is when the moult starts simultaneously at the extremes of the feather tract and works towards the centre. It is unlikely that this occurs in primaries but we have observed it in tails. We have presented six unconventional moults that have been observed fairly frequently. There are others. ( i ) is a completed partial moult; ( i i ) is a partial moult following a stopped moult; ( iii ) is a conventional moult following a completed partial moult; ( i v ) is an accidental moult. Moults similar to examples (v) and (vi) are common in Red-browed Firetal1s. Unconventional moults are fairly common and can lead the unwary bander into exotic flights of fancy. It is good practice to check both Wings when an unusual moult is observed. Finally, the literature often reFers to "ascendant'· and "descendant" mOUlt, Ie the direction in which the moult is progressing, either towards the Wing tip or to the innermost primary. We find these terms confusing because we cannot ascertain whether the label is attached to the feather itself or to the number associated with it. As primaries are numbered from the outside in Britain, we cannot be certain which term means which direction. Consequently, we try to avoid the use of these terms.

Page 129 ------EXAMPLES OF MOULT SEQUEJ'jCES ------Type of Moult Feather Score for Primary ------1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ------_._------Not Moulting a a a a a a a a a 0 Conventional NN N 4 2 1 a 0 0 0 Completed N N N NNN NN N N Stopped N N NN 0 0 0 0 0 0 Suspended 0 a a 0 NN 4 2 VV Arrested N N 3 2 1 S S 0 a a Partial a a a a N N 4 1 a a Step-wise N 4 2 a a a N 4 3 a Centrifugal a 1 4 N N N N 4 1 a Centripetal NN 4 1 a a 1 4 N N Unconventional - ( i ) a a a a a N N NNN - ( ii ) SSS a a a N 4 2 a - (ii I) 4 2 VV V a a a a a - ( i v ) a a a a N a a a a a

I - ( v ) N N a N N 3 1 1 a I 1',' - ( vi) a 3 N 3 a a a a a ------_._------

Page 130 ' .... _.,-\-- 0"""

'1"

SITE LOCATIONS 1 ' Barmah State Forest 2' Bendigo Whipstick 3 'Big Billy Bore 4 ' Coranderrk 5, East Melbourne dist. 'Churchill -Lilydale 'Seaford Swamp ,Wonga Park ,Yaringa 6 'Jamieson 7 -Klllawarra 8 'Knowsley State Forest 9 'Mount Piper o 10' Melton 11 'North Melbourne dist. -Toolanqi 'St Andrews 'Arthurs Creek ;:. '0 12 'Rotamah Island '0 @ o en 13 'Shepparton dist. ;l 14 'Taminick Co ® >< ...... 15 ' Wa i I State Forest o ® ...... @ »;

-0 OJ co ! ! 1 ! ! ! CD 500 Km 'I.j ~ co ~ Page 132 I _.._------r REFERENCES t. Bowles, WE. 1985. Bird in the Hand - Jacky Winter, Microeca i leucophaea. Corella 1985, 9 (2): 66. BTO.1976. The Ringer's Manual. British Trust for Ornithology: Tring. I Davis, P G. 1981. Trapping Methods for Bird Ringers. British Trust for Ornithology: Tring. Day/ N E. 1969. Estimating the Components of a Mixture of Normal Distributions. Biometrika. 56: 3. Disney, HJ deS., et al. 1974. (S G Lane Ed.) Bird in the Hand. The Bird Banders' Association of Australia: Sydney. , Ford, H. 1975. The Honeyeaters of Kangaroo Island. S Aust Orn I 27:134-8. I Forshaw, J M. 1981a. Australian Parrots. Lansdowne Editions: Melbourne. Forshaw, J M. 1981b. Parrots of the World. Lansdowne Editions: Melbourne. Ginn, HB and Melville, 0 S. 19B3. Moult in Birds. BTO Guide 19. British Trust for Ornithology: Tring. Immelman, K. 1982. Australian Finches. Angus and Robertson: Sydney. Liddy, J. 1984. Ageing and Moult Variations in Mistletoebirds. Corella 8:42-45 MacDonald, P 0 M and Pitcher, T J. 1979. Age Groups from Size Frequency Data: A Versatile and Efficient Method of Analysing Distribution Mixtures. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 36:987-1001. Newton, I. 1966. The Moult of the BUllfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula. Ibis 108:41-67. Noske, R A. 1982. Comparative Behaviour and Ecology of Some Australian Bark Foraging Birds. Ph 0 Thesis. University of New England, NSW. Noske, R A. 1984. Sexual Dichromatism in Nestling and Juvenile Treecreepers. The Australian Bird Watcher Vol 10 (6): 177-185. Oddie, B. 1980. Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book. Eyre Methuen: London. Paton, 0 C. 1982a. Moult of New Holland Honeyeater, Phylidonyris Novaehollandiae (Aves: meliphagidae) in Victoria, I Moult of Adults. Aust. Wildl. Res. 9:331-344. Paton, 0 C. 1982b. Moult of New Holland Honeyeater, Phylidonyris Novaehollandiae (Aves: meliphagidae) in Victoria, II Moult of Juveniles. Aust. Wildl. Res. 9:345-356. Paton, 0 C. 1984. Do New Holland Honeyeaters, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, Breed Regularly in Spring and Autumn? Emu 85: 130-133 Payne, R B. 1972. Mechanisms and Control of Molt. In Avian Biology, Volume II. Farner, 0 S and King, JR (Eds.). Academic Press: New York. Pizzey, G and Doyle, R. 1980. A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Collins: Sydney. RAOU (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union). 1978. Recommended English Names for Australian Birds. Emu 77, Supplement. Reader's Di~est Services. 1979. Complete Book of Australian Birds. (Rev,sed Edition). Readers Digest Services: Sydney.

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Roberts, A H N R. 1982. AgeIng and Sexing Passerines. VORG Notes. Vol 118, No. 2:54-59 Rogers, K G. 1976. Sexing Criterion for the Greater Flamingo Based on Tarsal Length Measurements. United Nations: Tehran. Rowley, I. 1975. Bird Life. Collins: Sydney. Schodde, R and Weatherly, R. 1982. The Fairy Wrens. Lansdowne Editions: Melbourne. Simpson KNG and Day, N. 1984. The Birds of Australia -A Book of Identification. Lloyd O'Neill: Melbourne. Slater, P. 1970. A Field Guide to Australian Birds - Volume One. Rigby: Adelaide. Slater, P. 1974. A Field Guide to Australian Birds - Volume Two. Rigby: Adelaide. s t or r G M and Johnstone RE 1979. Field Gu ide to the Birds of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum: Perth. Svensson, L. 1975. (2nd ed.) Identification Guide to European Passerines. Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet: Stockholm. (Newer editions are available. ) Williamson, K. 1968. Identification for RinQers, Volume I: The Genera Cettia, Locustella, Acrocephalus and Hlppolais. British Trust for Ornithology: Oxford. Woinarski, JC Z. 1984. Interbreeding of the Spotted and Yellow-rumped Pardalotes, Pardalotus punctatus and P. xanthopygus. Emu 84(2): 80-86. Zann, R. 1984. Continuous Wing Moult of Zebra Finches, Poephila guttata, from Southeast Australia. Ibis 127: 1-13.

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ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES Aoanthiza apioalis 76 Neophema pulohella 34 ohrysorrhoa 78 ewingii 77 Ooyphaps lophotes 29 lineata 79 Oreoioa gutturalis 62 nana 79 Oriolus sagittatus 116 pusilla 75 reguloides 78 Pachycephala inornatus 58 r Aoanthorhynohus tenuirostris 104 olivacea 57 Aorooephalus stentoreus 67 pectoralis 59 Alauda arvensis 41 rufiventris 60 Anthoohaera oarunoulata 83 Passer domesticus 110 paradoxa 84 montanus 111 Artamus cyanopterus 117 Pardalotus punctatus 106 superoiliosus 116 striatus 107 Petroica goodenovii 52 Calyptorhynohus funereus 29 multioolor 51 ;. Carduelis oarduelis 108 phoenicea 50 ohloris 109 rodinogaster 49 Ceoropis ariel 43 rosea 49 nigrioans 42 Phaps elegans 28 Chrysoooooyx basalis 37 Philemon citreogularis 86 luoidus plagosus 38 corniculatus 85 osculans 36 Phylidonyris albifrons 103 Cinolorhamphus mathewsi 68 nigra 102 Cinolosoma oastanotum 65 novae- Climaoteris erythrops 81 hollandiae 101 leuoophaea 80 pyrrhoptera 100 pioumnus 82 Platycercus caledonicus 31 Collurioinola harmonioa 61 elegans 31 Coraoina novaehollandiae 44 eximius 32 Craotious torquatus 118 Poephila guttata 113 Cuoulus pyrrhophanus 35 Pomatostomus variolosus 35 superciliosus 66 Psephotus haematonotus 33 Oaoelo novaeguineae 38 Oioaeum hirundinaoeum 105 Rhipidura fUliginosa 63 Orymodes brunneopygia 47 leucophrys 64 rufifrons 62 Emblema guttata 112 temporalis 112 Sericornis cautus 72 Eopsaltria australis 55 frontalis 71 sagittatus 73 Falounoulus frontatus 56 Smicrornis brevirostris 74 Strepera fUli~inosa 118 Gallinula mortierii 26 vers color 119 Geopelia plaoida 27 Sturnus vulgaris 115 Gerygone fusoa 75 Glossopsitta pusilla 30 Turdus merula 45 philomelos 47 Haloyon sanota 39 Turnix varia 26 Hirundo neoxena 42 Zosterops lateralis 108 Lalage sueurii 44 Lichenostomus chrysops 88 cratitius 91 flavicollis 90 fusous 93 leuootis 89 , melanops 90 / ornatus 92 penicillatus 94 Liohmera indistincta 99 Malurus cyaneus 69 lamberti 70 Manorina melanocephala 87 melanophrys 86 Melanodryas cucullata 53 vittata 54 Melithreptus affinis 98 brevirostris 97 gUlaris 95 lunatus 97 validirostris 96 Merops ornatus 40 Microeoa leuoophaea 56

Page 135 Page 136 r ... [ ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF ENGLISH NAMES Babbler, White-browed 66 Parrot, Red-rumped 33 Bee-eater, Rainbow 40 Turquoise 34 r Bellbird, Crested 62 Pigeon, Crested 29 Blackbird 45 Black-Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed 29 Quail-thrush, Chestnut 65 [ Bronze-Cuckoo, Horsfield's 37 Shining 38 Reed-Warbler, Clamorous 67 r Bronzewing, Brush 28 Robin, Dusky 54 Butcherbird, Grey 118 Eastern Yellow 55 Button-quail, Painted 26 Flame 50 Hooded 53 Cuckoo, Black-eared 36 Pink 49 Brush 35 Red-capped 52 Fan-tailed 35 Rose 49 Cuckoo-shrike, Black-faced 44 Scarlet 51 Currawong, Black lIB Rosella, Crimson 31 Grey 119 Eastern 32 Green 31 Dove, Peaceful 27 Scrub-robin, Southern 47 Fairy-wren, Superb 69 Scrubwren, White-browed 71 Variegated 70 Shrike-thrush, Grey 61 Fantail, Grey 63 Shrike-tit, Crested 56 Ru fous 62 Silvereye 108 Finch, Zebra 113 Skylark 41 Firetail, Red-browed 112 Songlark, Rufous 68 Diamond 112 Sparrow, House 110 Friarbird, Little B6 Tree 111 Noisy 85 Spinebill, Eastern 104 Starling, Common 115 Gerygone, Western 75 Swallow, Welcome 42 Goldfinch, European 108 Greenfinch, European 109 Thornbill, Brown 75 Buff-rumped 78 Honeyeater, Black-chinned 95 Inland 76 Black-headed 98 Striated 79 Brown 99 Tasmanian 77 Brown-headed 97 Yellow 79 Crescent 100 Yellow-rumped 78 Fuscous 93 Thrush, Song 47 New Holland 101 Treecreeper, Brown 82 Purple-gaped 91 Red-browed 81 Strong-billed 96 White-throated 80 White-cheeked 102 Triller, White-winged 44 White-eared B9 White-fronted 103 Wagtail, Willie 64 White-naped 97 Warbler, Speckled 73 White-plumed 94 Wattlebird, Red 83 Yellow-faced 88 Yellow 84 Yellow-plumed 92 Weebill 74 Yellow-throated 90 Whistler, Gilbert's 58 Yellow-tufted 90 Golden 59 Hylacola, Shy 72 01 i v e 57 Rufous 60 Jacky Winter 56 Willie Wagtail 64 Winter, Jacky 56 Kingfisher, Sacred 39 Woodswallow, Dusky 117 Kookaburra, Laughing 38 White-browed 116 Lorikeet, Little 30 Martin, Fairy 43 Tree 42 Miner, Bell 86 Noisy 87 Mistletoebird 105 Native-hen, Tasmanian 26 Oriole, Olive-backed 116 Pardalote, Spotted 106 Striated 107

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