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I photographed this fella in a tropical rainforest on Christmas Island two weeks ago. If anyone has a bird book handy (Mine is at home, 7000klms away) would you be kind enough to ID it for me. It posed completely motionless on the stick and i was able to use my 85mm on it. I think it was scared of me. (Looks like a Wren, Warbler, Butcher Bird or a Bell Bird)


Region - Christmas Island. Indian Ocean. 1800NM West of Darwin and 2000NM North West of Perth. 300 NM South of Java (Krakatoa). Tropical rainforest, high humidity, mean temps 20-30 degs. Summer monsoons, limited dry season with occasioanl rain.

Bird - 15-20cm beak to tail. Yellow beak and legs. Grey plumage with white breast and yellow underbelly. Solid black eyes. Made no sound i was aware of.

This is an Island Thrush. Just checked my other bird book that has pics of Christmas island birds. According to the book it has no fear of humans which matches up with what you said.

Great pic. It's not easy photographing birds in rainforests!

Thanks Nicole, you answered that quicker than i typed it up.

So the bird was in fact patronising me, he wasn't scared at all. Hmmmm...... nature can be so cruel at times.

Steve - he is a mocking bird...

did you shoot a mocking bird??? oh dear

As Nicole said, it's an Island Thrush or Christmas Island Thrush. I don't have a book except my Oz ID book. So I did a google search and description "yellow/orange bill, orange on belly".

Ah, Google, i didn't even think of trying that with the birds description. Will next time though.

Thanks all.

I'm disappointed Steve. I expected to see a second shot depicting you taking the first shot....



(Terrific image by the way!)

Nice image killa.

You shouldn't be scared of the thrush, either