How to spot the difference...

Sydney Olympic Park plays host to a multitude of bird species and telling them apart can sometimes be a little tricky. Although each species is unique, there are similarities between some that can cause confusion when trying to narrow down identity.  

Here are some helping hints when you find yourself grappling with which is which.

Sometimes you can tell the difference by looking a bird in its eyes.

Although differences in plumage can aid you in distinguishing between the two, with the Australian Magpie having more patches of white on their upper body, and the Pied Currawong having mostly black feathers with patches of white confined to their undertail and wing tips, eye colour is a sure way to determine who is who. 

The adult Australian Magpie as chestnut brown eyes, whilst the Pied Currawong has bright yellow eyes. 

Sometimes you can tell the difference in flight. 

Both species are small birds, often seen in groups flittering around on the hunt for food. These birds don’t stay stationary for long which can make it difficult to figure out which is which. But have a look at their shape in flight.

The Welcome Swallow has a forked tail in flight, whilst the tail of the Fairy Martins appears square in flight. 

Sometimes you can tell the difference by a touch of colour.

Although the Purple Swamphen is the larger of the two and shows more of a blue/ purple colour compared to the dark grey black plumage of the Dusky Moorhen, it can be difficult for some to determine unless each species is side by side. 

One sure way to tell the difference (noting that both birds have red bills and facial shields), is looking for the yellow tip on the bill of a Dusky Moorhen that is lacking on a Purple Swamphen. 

The variety of individual species all play a part in creating the biodiversity we love, so it’s important to get to know each of these unique characters in their own right.