Burns Conservation

tleeder · **on:** June 16, 2008, 04:54:07 PM

I was at Burns marsh off of Guelph line this morning and came across a really unique bird close to the main entrance area perched in the top of a dead tree. After viewing a few field guides I am unable to identify it including my friends - experienced birders.

This bird was about the size of a redstart with a jet black head. However, it's beak was about an inch and a half and curved a little downwards. The rest of the body was a little less blackish/grayish with a v-fork tail shape.

The bird flew away a couple of times returning for me to have a good look at it in the sunlight and memorize it's song as well. It flew like a typical warbler. The only bird in my field guides with a similar head to beak ratio is a hummingbird or curlew. This bird was not a humming bird or curlew! Could it be someone's lost PET - or just something unique for the area?

Best Regards,

Terry

JTF · **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2008, 08:11:22 PM

Was it a Gray Catbird?

tleeder · **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2008, 07:49:04 AM

Definitely was not a Gray Catbird... this bird was about the size of a pine warbler or redstart with a beak about three times as long - like a hummingbird. We might end having to call this little bird the mysterious pinocchio bird!(Hahaha)

Anyway, I had a great deal of time to observe this little bird in bright sunlight at a perfect angle to clearly see the entire jet black head including the unique long black beak. And Murphy's Law I left my camera up at the cottage over the weekend...

thouc · **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2008, 10:36:27 PM

If it's an exotic the size and bill-shape could fit with Sunbirds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbird) or Honeyeaters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeyeater). There are lots and lots of species so your bird could be in there somewhere...

tleeder · **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:15:42 AM

Thanks Thouc,

I've looked at the spiderhunters and honeyeaters and would agree with you that the sunbird is the closest match. I found one sunbird with the exact head to bill shape including colour(link below). However, the bird at Burns Conservtion had a blackish body with a much shorter tail. I'll keep searching...

http://www.birdway.com.au/nectariniidae ... 04484F.htm

Thanks Again,

Joe · **Reply #5 on:** August 15, 2008, 08:09:23 AM

Yup, it's a sunbird (The picture in the link).

Julian

tleeder · **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2008, 08:40:35 AM

Actually I went back shortly afterwards with a scope and found it to be a male ruby hummingbird after all that talk about it not being a hummingbird!!! I guess the last laugh is on me...