Visayan Tailorbird
Orthotomus castaneiceps
A small, long-billed, long-tailed bird of dense tangled undergrowth in lowland forest. Has olive-green wings and tail, a pale belly, a gray back of the neck, a gray back, and a gray chest with streaks. Note rufous cap and orange legs. Somewhat similar to leaf-warblers, but has a longer bill and a rufous cap. Song consists of a medium-pitched, whistled melody, “plik-wod plick-wee,” sometimes given in duet. Also gives downslurred nasal scolds.
Identification
The Visayan tailorbird (Orthotomus castaneiceps), also known as the Philippine tailorbird or the chestnut-crowned tailorbird, is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but now placed in the family Cisticolidae. It is native to the Philippines in Western Visayas. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, tropical mangrove forests and secondary growth.
Taxonomy
Genus: Orthotomus; Family: Cisticolidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Orthotomus castaneiceps
- Authority
- Walden, 1872
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Orthotomus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Green-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis viridipallens
Rather large hummingbird of humid evergreen forest in the mountains of eastern Chiapas and south to western Honduras. Rather inconspicuous in shady understory and at edges, where feeds at all levels on flowers. Despite the name, often looks rather drab, with dark mask, whitish throat (spotted green on male, but color is hard to see), and green upperparts. Best field mark is the tail, which in flight flashes extensive pale gray on the sides.
Black Manakin
Xenopipo atronitens
Small bird of dry scrub enclaves in rainforest regions. All-black male is distinctive; compared to other manakins, note longish tail and blue bill in both sexes. Locally common in low-stature forests and savanna scrub woodland, always in areas with extremely weathered, sandy soil. Eats fruit. Groups of males give vocal displays from dispersed perches, often well inside vegetation. Male resembles Amazonian Black-Tyrant, but has shorter bill and is unlikely to occur in the same habitat. Most common call is an unusual, squeaky chuckle; useful when searching for this bird in dense scrub.
Gray-lored Broadbill
Serilophus rubropygius
A small, quiet bird with a distinctly silky, smooth-feathered appearance. Shape and pattern unique and unmistakable; note thick black stripe behind eye, dark wings with a glossy blue-and-black panel, and broad-based silvery bill. Usually moves around through the middle layers of foothill and montane forest. Does not often join mixed-species foraging flocks, instead tending to stick to medium-sized groups of its own species. Sometimes gives a smooth, fluid ‘teelee!’Formerly treated as a subspecies of Silver-breasted Broadbill.
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