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Gerygone
Photo: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey
Gerygones,
Gerygone
spp.
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The name 'Gerygone' is pronounced 'Jerr-rig-a-knee'.
It is now used as the common name, for they were up until fairly recently
known as 'warblers',
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they are not related to the 'wood-warblers'
of the Americas, nor the true warblers of the Old world. This name is Greek in
origin and means 'born of sound', referring to their lovely calls (Cayley and
Lindsey 2000).
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Gerygones are, along with the thornbills and
scrubwrens, the classic 'little brown birds',
and thus telling them apart can be quite difficult.
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All species are small, mainly with brown or
grey upperparts, pale underparts, red eyes and usually with a small white
'eyebrow' or a streak from the bill and going over the eye.
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They make up for their dull plumage with
their pretty calls, with some species creating a beautiful series of up and
down notes.
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Many also build interesting, messy little
nests that hang suspended off tiny threads
(pictured). These are often built above rivers and appear as nothing but flood
debris, thus earning them the common name of ‘floodbirds’.
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They tend to flit or hover around the foliage
of trees, gleaning insects off leaves. There are 3 species that may commonly
be seen associated with Australian tropical rainforests.
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The
Large-billed Gerygone
(Gerygone magnirostris)
and its nests are commonly seen and heard in lowland rainforest (and
mangroves).
Script: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
Photo: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey
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