unknown bird

[amalan11]

Just wondering if anyone can help identify a pair of birds I saw this afternoon.They were a pair who looked very similar and were on a fence by the River in parkland.They were about 15-17 cm id say and had a forked tail like a swallow,they were a silver grey on the body and tail and a dark metalic blue on the back and wings.They each had a face that was a teracotta colour and were realy striking little birds ..
any ideas???

[vettepilot_6]

Sounds like a Bee eater

[craigvdl]

Are you sure they weren't in fact swallows? A lot of them around at the moment in Sydney.

Regards

Craig

[vettepilot_6]

Are you sure they weren't in fact swallows? A lot of them around at the moment in Sydney.

Regards

Craig

mmmm could be a barn swallow.....

[VR1Ton]

Try Fairy Martin or Tree Martin

[amalan11]

ok thanks found it,craig you were right its a swallow,I looked up the tree and fairy martins and the fairy martin was the closest but not quite..clicked on a link to Welcome swallows in that breed and thats them ,that realy teracota face . funny iv never seen them before yet they are supposed to be common .Lovely little birds anyway very striking
thanks!!

[nswchainsaw]

I think it is a Barn Swollow
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&s ... mQWX5MTkDw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[iaos]

In Sydney it is much more likely to by a welcome swallow than a barn swallow. If it was a barn swallow the twitchers would start twitching

[Nrg800]

Barn Swallows look hard to tell, but you know you've got one the moment you see it, the way the colours blend together is completely different with them to a normal swallow. The only difference is that they've got a bolder band and the feathers below that are white, but you'll never get the two confused if you have experience with either.

[amalan11]

that barn swallow is also very close but looking at the wikpedia photos of the 2 im sure its a welcome swallow..the image is identical to the 2 I saw with the realy teracota face.Its great to see these different birds in the inner suburbs we never used to get them