Unknown bird, ID appreciated

[dpastern]

Hey guys,

Hopefully one of you will be able to help ID this bird for me :)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/934258743_214c6f3c39_o.jpg

Dave

[CyberDyneSystems]

Wow,. I can't help wit the ID from OZ,. but it's quite a black bird, and those red eyes are amazing . Well done on the exposure, we get detail , but it wasn't turned an awe full shade of brown as can happen too when overexposing black birds to get detail..

Do you all have Rooks down there?
What about Grackles,. maybe the local varieties have those eyes! (there all yellow around here)

[dpastern]

Thanks Jake - this was taken with my 1D and 430ex flash, AV mode and the flash set to +2 or so to help bring out the details from memory (I'd have to look at the EXIF to be exact). I knew it was going to be hard to expose properly, so it was good practice for me. Black is always hard to get good detail out of ;)

I'm not sure what Rooks are, so I can't answer if we have them or not. I'll have to find out what they are first ;) Same with Grackles. When I have some money I'll get a book on Aussie birds and hopefully be able to ID it (and others). I do have a book, but it's packed somewhere in amongst many boxes, from my last move 7 years ago...easier to buy a new book when funds allow ;)

This bird isn't that large, and you can see the tail is like a swallowtails. The eyes are indeed unusual, being bright red. There's some black/green feathers on the back, just above the tail, I tried to bring those details out, but alas didn't succeed too well. They're quite flightly birds as well.

Anyways, time for me to go, I'm living with my parents now and my dad's dialup 56k connection is very slow (plus it's only accessible via his PC). When funds allow I'll get ADSL 2 and be back active again amongst the POTN community.

Cheers,

Dave

[skylab]

Cracking shot. Love the way the eyes seem to pop out.

[dpastern]

For those interested, this is a Spangled Drongo. I'm dead serious - that's its name!!! It appears that we had a mated pair, they have now disappeared, probably migrated further north to nest etc.

Dave

[RockOne]

Nice one Dave. That fishy looking tail gives it away. There were a pair of these at Shortland Wetlands last year, but too quick and high up in the trees to get a decent shot.

[dpastern]

Thanks Steve - we've only seen the mated pair here. They are apparently quite common though, but are migratory and this is probably their nesting time as well...hope to get more shots of them, especially since they're so friendly :)

Dave

[sugarzebra]

Great shot Dave....the eye is captivating and its always nice to see a shot of a black bird with such nice detail.

[ajosteve]

Love the shot, and that is an unusual bird, with a funny name too....great capture...steve