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Discover 20 bird species
Sarkidiornis melanotos
Large bicolored waterbird. Both sexes are iridescent purplish-green above with a white or buffy breast. Males have a large black lump on the bill, gray flanks and whitish belly, whereas females have a plain bill and gray flanks. Note all dark wings. Occurs throughout much of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. Found in freshwater rivers, lakes, and marshes where it is usually uncommon. Normally silent.
Rhipidura torrida
Small, active songbird with long, pale-tipped tail and warm brownish-orange on the forehead, rump, and tail base. Grayish brown above and pale below overall, with a white throat and black-speckled breast. Frequently cocks and fans tail. Endemic to the northern Moluccas (Halmahera, Bacan, Obi, Ternate), where it primarily inhabits hill and montane forest. Gives high-pitched, tinkling song and calls. Formerly grouped with other closely related species under “Rufous Fantail.”
Tychaedon coryphoeus
A drab, gray-brown scrub-robin with bold white tail tips, eyebrow, and throat markings. Pairs are active and noisy in dry scrubby thickets and arid brush, where they vocalize prominently from the top of shrubs, fences, and rocks, or hop and run around on the ground, sometimes with their tails cocked. A scolding harsh contact call and warbler-like song draws attention to them. Other scrub-robins in the same range are more strikingly colored, and chats lack the white tail tips of Karoo Scrub-Robin.
Pitohui uropygialis
A fairly large bird of mainly secondary lowland and foothill forest edge. As the name suggests, a variably plumaged bird. Males mostly have a black hood, wing and tail with belly and back, chestnut or orange-brown. Males and females of some races have a brown head. Very similar to Hooded Pitohui, but Southern Variable is usually found at lower elevation and has black rather than brown above the base of the tail. Song, a varied, jumbled warble.
Campylorhynchus humilis
Large wren usually found in small groups, less often in pairs. Mainly found in thorn forest and dry scrubby habitats. Note boldly barred wings and tail and russet nape patch. At most only limited overlap with the formerly conspecific Rufous-backed Wren; in Russet-backed the barring and spotting on the upperparts is more prevalent, and whatever rufous coloration is present is generally not as bright. Often detected by its marvelous loud song, often given by multiple birds at once, which consists of various nasal and whistled notes, with some harsh elements mixed in.
Pachycephala soror
A medium-sized bird of mid-montane forest. Yellow belly, olive back and white throat. Male has a black head and border to the throat. Female has a brown head and diffuse olive chest band. The male is similar to several other golden whistlers but lacks the yellow patch behind the head. Female is similar to Regent, Lorentz’s and Vogelkop Whistler’s but has white throat and brown head. Voice, a series of typical whistlerlike “chew!” or “whip!” notes that get louder and end with an explosive quality.
Pachyramphus validus
Large and robust becard found in the canopy and edges of humid and montane forests where it sometimes accompanies mixed-species flocks. Males are mostly dark gray with a paler breast and belly and with a white spot in the middle of the back that is normally concealed. Females are cinnamon above and pale yellow below with a gray crown. Not very vocal; makes occasional squeaky noises.
Phoenicurus erythrogastrus
A large redstart with an elongated build and upright posture. Adult male is black with a white cap and orange belly. Namesake white wing patch is only present in the males; its true extent only becomes visible in flight. Female is a warm brown with darker wings and an orange tail; her size and posture differentiate her from other plain female redstarts. Breeds in open alpine areas with sparse to no cover; one of a handful of birds found in the high glacial passes of the Himalayas.
Forpus xanthops
Tiny, uncommon parrot restricted to deserts in the Marañon Valley of northern Peru. The yellow (not green) crown, face, and throat separate it from Pacific Parrotlet. The rump and the inner part of the wings are bright blue, but are often concealed when the bird is perched. Found in very dry areas near the base of the valley, especially in areas with abundant cacti, a favorite food source. Threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
Himatione sanguinea
A blood-red Hawaiian honeycreeper found on all of the larger islands. Smaller and darker red than the Iiwi, with a shorter black bill and white under the tail. Juveniles are brown instead of red. Sometimes abundant in native forest at high elevations and also occurs at lower elevations in some areas where it usually stays high in the forest canopy. Large numbers may congregate in a flowering tree. Sometimes holds the tail cocked up. Often flies in flocks, sometimes high above the forest. Song consists of 2–3 soft notes followed by a reedy trill: “dee-der-di-di-di-di.”
Macropygia unchall
Shy brown dove of forests with dense understory. Wings and tail are dark brown, and the rest of the body is closer to tan. Males are boldly barred on the chest, and both sexes have a bronzy-green tinge to the nape. Seldom seen out in the open, this species is quick to flee when approached, flying strongly and quickly through dense vegetation. Appears longer-tailed than Spotted Dove and Turtle Dove, both when in flight and on the ground.
Riparia riparia
Small and compact swallow, with quick flicking wingbeats. Brown above and white below, with a contrasting dark chest band. Note the relatively long, notched tail and narrow, pointed wings. Breeds in colonies; builds nest by tunneling into sandbanks. Can be seen over any open habitat including fields, marshes, and ponds, often in mixed flocks with other species of swallows. Compare with other small brownish swallows where overlaps occur in its extensive global range.
Zosterops stuhlmanni
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird that is saturated with yellow. Note the yellow underparts, olive-yellow back, and bold white spectacles around the eyes. Found in forest, scrub, gardens, moist woodland, and plantations, usually in hyperactive flocks that can contain many individuals. Often joins mixed flocks with other small birds. Most common call is a high-pitched rising rattle. Song is a quiet, chatty sequence of “chew” notes. Similar to Northern Yellow White-eye, but slightly darker and greener, and usually separated by range and habitat. Also similar to Pale White-eye, but usually separated by range; shows more yellow above the bill, is more richly-colored overall, and prefers moister habitats.
Veniliornis dignus
Fairly small woodpecker found in subtropical Andean forests from Colombia to Peru. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous as it feeds in the middle to upper levels of the trees, sometimes with a mixed-species flock. Look for bold face pattern: white eyebrow and mustache separated by dark cheek, and red crown (restricted to nape in female). Underparts pale yellow with bold dark barring. Not many similar species at the same elevation.
Strix chacoensis
Large owl of Chaco forest in SE Bolivia, W Paraguay, and NW Argentina. Note round head, barred underparts, and whitish throat. Song a distinctive dry rattled series of hoots. Prefers tall arid thorn forest.
Coccyzus vetula
An impressive long-tailed bird of moist mid-elevation woodlands including secondary growth, where it feeds in the understory by peeking and probing into vegetation in pursuit of insects and lizards. Generally solitary and secretive, but not shy. Note this species’ long, straight, narrow bill and buff underparts. The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is similar in overall shape, but it is somewhat larger with a chestnut belly and a grayish chest; also note its bill is much shorter and somewhat curved compared to Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo. The passingly similar Mangrove Cuckoo is somewhat smaller, shorter billed, lacks an eyering, and has a black mask. Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoos are often first detected by voice: a rapid-fire, ratcheting “k-k-k-kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh…” that grows slower and louder as it progresses; usually given at a uniform pitch.
Tinamus solitarius
Large, dumpy, almost tailless terrestrial inhabitant of the Atlantic Forest, where it walks quietly through forests with an open understory. This tinamou has a gray-brown barred back and vent, pale gray on the belly with a prominent pale stripe on the side of the neck. Very secretive, best identified by song, a series of “frru” whistles with long silences between them.
Arachnothera magna
A large and noisy inhabitant of tropical and subtropical hill forests. Distinctive in its range; a large spiderhunter with a long, curved black bill and black streaking all over its yellow-green upperparts and lighter yellow underparts. Gleans invertebrates from foliage, but also hovers around and probes into flowers for nectar. Often moves with mixed flocks. Calls frequently, giving a loud, decisive-sounding “chitick, chitick!”.
Chlorophonia cyanocephala
Small finchlike bird, compact and short tailed. Generally yellow below and dark blue-back above with stout, short bill. Both sexes of Golden-rumped are distinctive in range. Male has sky blue crown and nape, dark throat, and orangey-yellow belly. Females are duller olive-yellow overall but still possess the telltale blue crown and nape. Frequents open forested habitats, edges, and gardens. Can form mixed feeding flocks with other species such as warblers and tanagers.
Bleda syndactylus
A large greenbul often found close to the ground in areas with large trees and open understory, and occasionally in forest edge and other more open habitats. Largely olive-green above and greenish-yellow below with a yellow throat, bright blue facial skin around the eye, a large, angular, laterally compressed bill, and a long red tail. Song is a haunting, resonant series of descending whistles, “WHUUUR-WHUUR-WHUUR-WHUR,” with each note often quavering.
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