White-fronted Chat

Every time I get the chance to see these exquisite little birds I wonder why they aren’t called Black-fronted Chats.

 

White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons) – male
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DsR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT

 

I was at the Western Treatment Plant this week, YAY, and although the lighting wasn’t perfect for most of the day’s shots I did like it for this White-fronted Chat. The softness of the light meant it was easier to keep detail in the whites while also suiting the saltbush and the background.

The markings of these males is very distinct with their black caps and wide black breast bands against their white heads, faces and underparts. Their eye colour is also distinctive, not quite yellow but not quite red or orange either. Individual’s eye colour seems to vary quite a bit.

 

White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons) – male
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, focal length 560mm
Canon 5DsR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT

 

The three colours of the chat’s head show clearly as he was preening as does the brownish shade of his wing. Female chats are softer looking, I’ve shared images of them in earlier posts which can be found by searching for ‘chat’ in the search box above.

White-fronted chats live in areas of saltmarsh where they forage for insects. They are small birds measuring about 12cm and weighing about 13g.

I can hardly believe the rain we’ve been getting; I wish we could share it more fairly around the country. As I write, hailstones are dancing in my garden.

Happy birding

Kim

 

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