Djarawong Lodge Birds - C to E
Cockatiel
The Cockatiel is an unusual member of the cockatoo family. It is small in size, and has a slender body and long pointed tail, which is more characteristic of the smaller parrots. Its plumage is mostly grey, paler below, with a white wing patch, orange cheeks and a distinctive pointed crest. The male can be identified by its bright yellow forehead, face and crest. Young Cockatiels resemble the adult female, although the young males usually have a brighter yellow face. The Cockatiel is not found naturally in any other country, and we have 2 of them that live here at Djarawong.
Cockatiels feed on a variety of grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain and any fresh vegies and fruit that we have around the house. They also love Trill shoots, which resemble tall grass shoots. Most afternoons you will see our 2 pecking in the lawn at the rear of the terrace or in the sand.
Crested Pigeon
The Crested Pigeon is a stocky pigeon with a conspicuous thin black crest. Most of the plumage is grey-brown, becoming pinker on the under parts. The wings are barred with black, and are decorated with glossy green and purple patches. The head is grey, with a pinkish-red ring around the eye.
If startled, this pigeon takes to the air with a characteristic whistling flight, and glides with down turned wings. The whistling sound is produced by the air passing over a modified primary feather on the wing. Upon landing, the pigeon swings its tail high in the air.
Its diet consists mostly of native seeds, as well as those of introduced crops and weeds. Some leaves and insects are also eaten.
You will often see them in the garden sitting in the trees waiting for the right moment to drink from the water feature.
Crimson Rosella
There are several colour forms of the Crimson Rosella. The form it is named for has mostly crimson (red) plumage and bright blue cheeks. The feathers of the back and wing coverts are black broadly edged with red.
Crimson Rosellas are normally encountered in small flocks and are easily attracted to garden seed trays. Natural foods include seeds of eucalypts, grasses and shrubs, as well as insects and some tree blossoms.
Double Barred Finch
The Double-barred Finch is one of the long-tailed grass-finches and is notable for its 'owl-faced' features, having a white face bordered black. It is grey-brown, with white under parts banded black above and below the chest, giving the species its name. The wings are black, spotted white, the tail is black and the bill and legs are blueish-grey.
The Double-barred Finch prefers dry grassy woodlands and scrublands, open forests and farmlands. It is never far from water.
The Double-barred Finch feeds on the ground on seeds. It will also take insects, especially when breeding.
These little birds swarm into the front garden and feed on the long shoots when we haven’t gotten around to mowing. They are in large groups of around 30.
Eastern Whipbird
Adult Eastern Whipbirds are mostly dark olive-green above, with a long tail, and a grey-white belly. The head and breast are black, with a broad white patch on the side of the face and a black crest. The eye is pale cream and the bill is black.
Eastern Whipbirds live in wet habitats, including rainforest, eucalypt forest and dense scrub near watercourses, in dense vegetation near the ground. The birds are secretive, but can be curious, and will be seen if the observer remains patient.
The Eastern Whipbird feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, which are caught on the ground by bill.