STGF the Count

[gomer]

Ok about 60% chestnuts and 40% yellowrumps. These birds were on my list to get better photos of and I have got some rippers.

[firetail555]

STARling finches

[gomer]

Before this sighting I had only seen between two to three hundred finches max in a flock that could identify. This was a definite high of the trip for me of many.

[Craig52]

Great pic Gomer but one thing i can't understand, why do yellow rumps hang around with chestnuts, why don't they hybridize and are yellow rumps just a morph of chestnuts? In other words if and I believe they would cross breed do they produce a specific bird and not a hybrid looking bird?
Has anyone bred a chestnut/yellow rump cross and what did it look like? I have bred finches for over forty years and never seen a hybrid between the two. Craig

[Pete Sara]

It does make you wonder about a chestnut yellow rump combo Craig, great pics Gomer sounds like you all had a great time...Pete

[gomer]

Every yellow rump I have seen in two trips has been in flocks of chestnuts.Or mainly Stars then Chestnuts.I remembered reading from a old book.I cant recall what one.That where ever there are chestnuts in the areas that yellow rumps are.That they are most likley going to be in mixed groups.Hence If I ever see chestnuts I always look for yellow rumps.I have seen flocks of 40 or so chestnuts and always there are a couple of yellow rumps in there. I think that it maybe a matter of safety in numbers.And being both munias they most likley have simular needs and are more likley to group up. Like at water holes finches wait until there are a number of birds generally then come down in a group or small groups. This is just my theory on this any way.

[BrettB]

I spent two days looking around Kununurra for those chestnuts without finding any.
Glad you managed to get some photos Gomer

Cheers
Brett

[finchbreeder]

Sounds like Chestnuts and Yellow rumps are a bit like most people. They hang out with the rellos, but no funny business.
LML

[gomer]

I spent two days looking around Kununurra for those chestnuts without finding any.
Glad you managed to get some photos Gomer

Cheers
Brett

I had a look one arvo for a hour or so.Then found this group pretty early in the morning a week or so later on the way back through.

[casehulsebosch]

Quote:"Hence If I ever see chestnuts I always look for yellow rumps.I have seen flocks of 40 or so chestnuts and always there are a couple of yellow rumps in there. I think that it maybe a matter of safety in numbers.And being both

You have to qualify this statement by saying "given the right area"

I can send you on a wild goose chase around the NT with plenty of Chestnut Mannikins but no yellowrumps D
let me know if you want the coordinates. lol

cheers

case