Carmelite Sunbird
Chalcomitra fuliginosa
A large, dark sunbird that is usually found near the coast, although inland populations exist locally, perhaps most notably in Angola. Occurs in a variety of disturbed and edge habitats as well as in swamps and coastal woods. Males are overall chocolate-brown with iridescent purple-pink throats and foreheads, while females are a much paler olive-brown with noticeably darker throats. Bill is relatively straight. Distinguished from the smaller and more compact Green-throated Sunbird by its larger size, its small purple throat and crown, and the female’s dark throat. Calls include liquid “pip” notes and buzzy trills, with songs comprising variable combinations of these notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Chalcomitra fuliginosa
- Authority
- (Bechstein, 1811)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Chalcomitra
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Slaty-legged Crake
Rallina eurizonoides
Small, chickenlike dweller of dense forests and tangled edges. Dark brown above, with orange head and breast and black-and-white-striped sides. Juvenile similar but with brown head and breast, narrower white stripes below. Dark lead-gray legs distinguish this species from Red-legged, Band-bellied, and Ruddy-breasted crakes, which also show different underpart patterns. Sings at night from favored tree perches, a series of doubled hoots that recall Mountain Scops-Owl.
White-browed Bulbul
Pycnonotus luteolus
A plain brownish bulbul that is endemic to the bottom half of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Ubiquitous inhabitant of scrubby habitat across its range and sometimes overlaps with Yellow-throated Bulbul in rocky scrub. Although both species have a yellow vent and can sound similar, White-browed can be distinguished by its brown face and white eyebrow. Usually occurs in pairs and tends to skulk in undergrowth. Rather noisy but uncommonly seen, listen for regular, short bursts of distinctive raucous babbling.
Gray-streaked Flycatcher
Muscicapa griseisticta
Small and streaky flycatcher, with longer-winged appearance than Asian Brown and Dark-sided Flycatchers. Breeds in mixed and deciduous forest in lowlands and hilly regions. Dark brown above, white below, with distinct pale eyering and long, dark streaks below. Streaking can resemble the patterning of some Dark-sided Flycatchers but is more distinct, less smudgy-looking. Asian Brown Flycatcher shares the same general color scheme but is paler brown and lacks streaking.
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