Moorhen & Magpie Face-Off

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At the end of a great afternoon at Cooby Dam on the Darling Downs, I witnessed a spectacular "face-off" between a juvenile Dusky Moorhen and Magpies over a meal find - the hen stood it's ground and stretched it's body into appearing much larger and was equally as feisty as the magpies.  Eventually the bush-hen retreated with the Magpies winning the meal.  J.G.

N.B. Initially I had labelled the juvenile Dusky Moorhen as a Bush-Hen.  After advice from this blog and bird experts from Eremaea it has been confirmed as a Juvenile Dusky Moorhen. J. 01/02/14








Comments

  1. Russell JenkinsAugust 18, 2013 at 10:17 AM

    Wonderful action pictures! Actually I thought bush-hens were bigger than Australian Magpies but obviously not. Nobody should mess with an Aussie Maggie.

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    Replies
    1. Judi GraySeptember 28, 2013 at 9:34 PM

      Thanks Russell for your comment - The bush hens are taller than magpies I think, however they were no match for them on this occasion! I was rather amusing to watch.

      Delete
  2. VickiAugust 18, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    Magpies: 1
    Bush-hens: 0

    Love it. Great capture.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Red Nomad OZAugust 18, 2013 at 9:09 PM

    HAhaha! Who'd argue with a magpie's beak??!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. John KooistraSeptember 30, 2013 at 11:20 PM

    Hi Judi, some nice action shots there. I think the Bush Hens may be Dusky Moorhens - white under tail, large size. Bush-hens are much smaller and usually very shy.

    ReplyDelete

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