Help identifying an Aussie Bird

Factual Questions
1

Hi folks,
A friend has asked me for some help idenitfying a bird she has running around with her chooks (I haven’t seen it so I only have the info she gave me). I have just spent several hours on the internet with nothing even close to her description.

Location: Central Murry region NSW (50 km from Vic border)
She is on a farmlet on the outskirts of town.
It is grey, grey beak, about size of crested pigeon, longish legs which are orange, it’s tail sticks straight up at 90 degrees without taper or flairing, can run like the billie-oh. She has seen it fly about 50m. Seems to enjoy hanging out with the chooks and while it was quite shy to start with is getting used to human presences.

I’m going to try and get a hold of some bird books over the next couple of days but any help would be appreciated.

MRW

2

Sounds like a Brush Turkey. If it was further north could be an orange footed scrub fowl.

3

Brush turkey is much bigger than a crested pigeon. What about the spotless crake? Fits the description, is well within its range, and crakes can run like the billie-oh. Love to know your final ID.

4

So this brush turkey is a runt :smiley:

5

Oh, didn’t think of that. :smack:
OK, that’s two votes for runt brush turkey.

6

I think you are closer than I am. I misread the bit about a crested pigeon as this rogue bird being crested.

7

I think I am closer too - I just thought your reply was very funny, so played along with it. I think the spotted crake is front running at this stage.

8

You should be ashamed of that bad pun.

9

And even more ashamed that I didn’t realise it was a pun until you pointed it out. I look forward to madrabbitwoman rejoining the conversation and letting us know if we need to keep going or if the spotted crake has solved the mystery.

I am in Melbourne and it is bedtime. Your profile didn’t tell me where you are. It says ‘travelling’. If you are in the same time zone, then: Good night. Sleep well.

10

Ok folks
I’m printing off a picture of a spotted crake to show my friend. The only thing is that she was quite emphatic about it having a grey beak and Porzana porzana (I love that name) seems to have a yellow one. We shall see.

11

Got the book out again. My mistake - Spotless crake. Porzana tabuensis.

According to Pizzey and Knight, Porzana pusilla is Baillon’s crake, while Porzana fluminea is the Australian spotted crake. All are possible in that region, but the grey beak and orange legs matches the spotless crake. Can’t see a Porzana porzana

Sorry about spotting up the spotless crake.

12

The Black tailed native hen is in the running.

13

We need colibri here. He can likely not only tell you what species but it’s sex and rough age.

14

Is this before or after the first date?

15

Apparently there is a photo of mystery bird.
I will see it tonight. Will try to snag a copy to post here.

MRW

16

I could be a long way off here, but I’m going with “Nicole Kidman” for this one.

17

WE HAVE A WINNER!
Black Tailed Native Hen.
I am trying to organize a picture.

MRW

18

Thank you for letting us know. It certainly fits, and is also unusual around chooks.

19

Those brush turkeys are pretty good imitators- I wouldn’t be in the least surprised…