I was taking photos of Superb Fairy-Wrens, and thought this was a female until I had a closer look. Now I am not so sure. I considered Thornbills and Gerygones, but none seemed to fit this image. I have never seen a Jacky Winter at Coramba before, but this was the best ID I could come up with. Thanks, Alison.

Hello Alison,

I don't think this is Jacky Winter. The key ID point for Jacky Winter is the prominent white edges to the tail. I see what appear to be white spots on the undertail, that rules out thornbills. So that leaves gerygones and there are two with white under the tail. They are closely related and once lumped together, Brown Gerygone and Western Gerygone. Western Gerygone is a bird of drier country whereas the Brown Gerygone inhabits much of coastal and sub-coastal rainforest of e. Australia. The obvious pale fore-supercilium is also diagnostic of Brown Gerygone. The location of the white spots under the tail are not classic Brown Gerygone but perhaps a result of moult in progress with new retrices growing out from the base of the tail . I can't think of anything else it could be.

Hope this helps, Ian

Thanks very much, Ian. I did consider that it might be a Brown Gerygone - I know these better from their call than by sight, as they always seem to be hidden in dense foliage. I hear them in the bush nearby, but normally only ever catch a fleeting glimpse of them. However, this one was right out in the open, perched on a wild tobacco on the edge of the road, which made me think it was something else.

Best wishes, Alison.