At this time of the year, it joins many other birds with its bright and cheery song.

How did the jacky winter receive its name?

For many years it was officially the brown flycatcher, but a few decades ago jacky winter became its official title. This is an early colonial name from the Sydney region.

The “jacky” part of the name indicates a familiarity, or a closeness. Jacky lizard is another example, used for a familiar and seemingly friendly creature. Willie wagtail is another of these “affectionate” names.

The “winter” part has been attributed to the bird’s singing in the cooler months.

It is a resident bird, remaining in the same spot all year round, so its song in winter, when many other birds are quiet, attracts attention. However, its full song is best heard in springtime.

Boys of early Sydney knew the bird simply as “winter”. Part of the bird’s song resembles a twittering “peter-peter-peter” and it is possible that this was earlier transcribed as “winter-winter-winter”, giving a second explanation of the friendly and familiar little bird’s “surname”.

Unfortunately, the once-familiar jacky winter is one of a number of declining bushbirds.

It was formerly more common locally, but now it is much scarcer. It seems to be slowly retreating to the north.

However, it is still to be found at a few places south of the Divide.

Although it is a plain-plumaged bird, its bright song and the prominent white sides to its black tail help to identify it. Its habit of perching on posts and dead branches also assists in identification.

We have once again been enjoying the song of the jacky winter in a few places this spring.

At Shepherd’s Flat near Daylesford, we had the pleasure of hearing not only the jacky winter in full voice, but also the white-winged triller and the painted honeyeater.

All were in the same lightly-timbered paddock, reminding us that we are now at “the height of spring”.

Several local people have travelled across to Newstead to see a pair of rare barking owls that have taken up residence on the edge of the town.

The birds were found resting together in a tall yellow box tree on the edge of a small dry creek.

The barking owl is rare anywhere in Victoria, so a sighting at Newstead is unexpected and welcome. Reports closer to Ballarat are very infrequent.