Every time I get the chance to see these exquisite little birds I wonder why they aren’t called Black-fronted Chats.
White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons) – male
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DsR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
I was at the Western Treatment Plant this week, YAY, and although the lighting wasn’t perfect for most of the day’s shots I did like it for this White-fronted Chat. The softness of the light meant it was easier to keep detail in the whites while also suiting the saltbush and the background.
The markings of these males is very distinct with their black caps and wide black breast bands against their white heads, faces and underparts. Their eye colour is also distinctive, not quite yellow but not quite red or orange either. Individual’s eye colour seems to vary quite a bit.
White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons) – male
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DsR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
The three colours of the chat’s head show clearly as he was preening as does the brownish shade of his wing. Female chats are softer looking, I’ve shared images of them in earlier posts which can be found by searching for ‘chat’ in the search box above.
White-fronted chats live in areas of saltmarsh where they forage for insects. They are small birds measuring about 12cm and weighing about 13g.
I can hardly believe the rain we’ve been getting; I wish we could share it more fairly around the country. As I write, hailstones are dancing in my garden.
Happy birding
Kim
~ If interested please like my new Facebook page: Kim Wormald – lirralirra and visit Ethical Bird Photography
~ For a weekly email saying lirralirra has been updated please use the ‘subscribe’ box
A lovely blog, and terrific photos! Thankyou.
Thanks Janine and thanks for all your encouraging comments on the new fb page too
Some world-wide weather moderation would be more than welcome. We had two dribbles of very welcome rain yesterday, and are not expecting any more. Wind yes. Sigh.
I am so glad that you got out to the Western Treatment Plant and shared some of your captures. This is yet another beauty. Bird nomenclature frequently has me scratching my head. Our magpies are different to North American magpies which are different to British magpies for example…
You are so right about the weather EC, and the bird nomenclature. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with, I still think of Black-winged Stilts, which seems like a perfect name for them but now they’re called White-headed Stilts or Pied Stilts.
A very sweet little bird!
The females are sweet too, softer colouring, such a lovely little species
Gorgeous photos Kim.
Thank you Evie, and thank you for your help with the facebook lirralirra page
Gorgeous looking little birds Kim, thx for continuing to delight us each Friday with your bird pics.
I was just thinking how tricky it has been recently to get the Friday post done and then your beaut comment comes in and inspires me to keep going, thank you