~Thornbirds

De Doornvogel is een geslacht uit de Ovenvogels.
Ze zijn een familie
van vogels uit de orde zangvogels.
De familie telt 305 soorten.
Ze danken de naam aan de vorm van het nest
dat lijkt op een oven.
~ LINK ~

The thornbirds are related to ovenbirds such
as the Rufous Hornero.
There are three geographically separated
races of this species.
This is the nominate sub-species which
has a rufous forehead.

The most noticeable feature of these rather
drab birds are the enormous stick nests which they build.
These can be up to 2 metres long. The scale can be judged
in the photo from the thornbird sitting
on the top of the nest.

These nest have several chambers although
only one is used. This elaborate set-up is
presumably a defence against predators.

 
You are likely to  see several nests in the same
tree but this does not signify that there it nests
in colonies. In fact, the same pair will build a new
nest each year and usually in the same or a nearby tree.
As a general rule, the higher the nest the more
recent it will be.
~ LINK  ~

Species:
-Phacellodomus rufifrons (Rufous-fronted Thornbird)
-Phacellodomus inornatus (Plain Thornbird)
-Phacellodomus sibilatrix (Little Thornbird)
-Phacellodomus striaticeps (Streak-fronted Thornbird)
-Phacellodomus striaticollis (Freckle-breasted Thornbird
-Phacellodomus maculipectus (Spot-breasted Thornbird
-Phacellodomus dorsalis (Chestnut-backed Thornbird)
-Phacellodomus ruber (Greater Thornbird)
-Phacellodomus erythrophthalmus (Orange-eyed Thornbird)
-Phacellodomus ferrugineigula (Red-eyed Thornbird)

There is a legend
about a bird that sings
once in its life, more
sweetly than any other creature
on the face of the earth.
From the moment it leaves the nest,
it searches for a thorn tree, and
does not rest until it has found one.............

For the best is only bought
at the cost of great pain....
or so says the legend.

by Colleen McCullough