Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In May 2019, I spent a few days in the Kimberley with Tracks Birding. Our target species was Black Grasswren. With the help of Laurie Ross, we managed to find and film several pairs, along with a stack of other endemic species. On the return leg, I also spent 6 days around Darwin looking for some of the regions special birds. Thankfully, I found all the target species and as you can see, filmed quite a nice selection. Australia is such an awesome place for birds and the challenge of finding and filming them is always a rush. Tim Siggs. ABVC.
General description
A striking, colourful bird, the Rainbow Bee-eater is medium sized, with a long slim curved bill and a long tail with distinctive tail-streamers. It has a golden crown and a red eye set in a wide black stripe from the base of the bill to the ears, which is edged with a thin blue line. The throat is orange-yellow, with a broad black band separating it from a green breast. The upperparts are green, with the flight feathers coppery and black tipped. The underwings are bright orange, with a black edge. The lower abdomen is blue. The tail is black, including the long tail streamers, with a blue tinge. Females have shorter, thicker tail streamers than males, but are otherwise similar. Young birds are duller and greener, lacking the black band on the chest and the long tail streamers.
In May 2019, I spent a few days in the Kimberley with Tracks Birding. Our target species was Black Grasswren. With the help of Laurie Ross, we managed to find and film several pairs, along with a stack of other endemic species. On the return leg, I also spent 6 days around Darwin looking for some of the regions special birds. Thankfully, I found all the target species and as you can see, filmed quite a nice selection. Australia is such an awesome place for birds and the challenge of finding and filming them is always a rush. Tim Siggs. ABVC.
General description
A striking, colourful bird, the Rainbow Bee-eater is medium sized, with a long slim curved bill and a long tail with distinctive tail-streamers. It has a golden crown and a red eye set in a wide black stripe from the base of the bill to the ears, which is edged with a thin blue line. The throat is orange-yellow, with a broad black band separating it from a green breast. The upperparts are green, with the flight feathers coppery and black tipped. The underwings are bright orange, with a black edge. The lower abdomen is blue. The tail is black, including the long tail streamers, with a blue tinge. Females have shorter, thicker tail streamers than males, but are otherwise similar. Young birds are duller and greener, lacking the black band on the chest and the long tail streamers.
