Jacky Winter

Mostly found in open woodlands, the Jacky Winter hawks for insects mid-air and sometimes takes prey from tree trunks and branches and from on the ground.

 

After sallying forth from a convenient low branch or fence post, the bird will often return to the same perch, making things a little easier sometimes for frustrated photographers. Its flight is graceful and acrobatic at times.

When the bird alights on a perch, it diagnostically twitches its tail from side to side displaying some white feathers.

 

The Jacky Winter has a repeated ‘peter-peter-peter’ call and is a renown mimic of other birds.

There are several theories for the common name, Jacky Winter. ‘Jacky’ is an affectionate name, rather like ‘Willie’ Wagtail, believed to be ascribed by early settlers who also recorded it as singing through ‘winter’ when many other species went quiet. Others say that the ‘peter-peter-peter’ call can be heard as ‘winter-winter-winter’.

 

There is no doubting the origins of the scientific name, Microeca fascinans. Micros is Greek for small, oikus for house or dwelling and fascinans for fascinating, thus the bird is aptly described as a bewitching or fascinating dweller of a small house.

Jacky Winters build the barest minimum of a nest with cobweb and grass fibres, placed usually on an exposed horizontal fork, often not very far above ground level.

 

The Jacky Winter is one of our most charming bushland birds.