Turner's Eremomela
Eremomela turneri
A very small, well-marked warbler. Note the gray upperparts, the rufous forehead, and the white underparts with a black chest band. Found very locally in low- and middle-elevation rainforest, often along the forest edge. Very similar to Rufous-crowned Eremomela, but usually distinguished by range, and also slightly smaller, with less rufous on the crown. Usually in small groups, which frequently join mixed flocks. Inconspicuous vocalizations are high-pitched “sit” notes, sometimes given singly, and sometimes in a quick series.
Taxonomy
Turner's eremomela is a member of the family Cisticolidae. This species was once considered conspecific with rufous-crowned eremomela, but was recognized as a separate species when areas of overlap between these taxa were discovered in the Congo Rainforest.<p>Two subspecies are currently recognized.<p>The nominate E. t. turneri is named for Henry John Allen Turner, a settler in Kenya of British origin. The western E. t. kalindei is named for Kalinde Musiko, a Congolese hunter who collected birds on behalf of Alexandre Prigogine and Musée du Congo belge.
- Scientific name
- Eremomela turneri
- Authority
- Van Someren, 1920
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Eremomela
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Small antbird, black above and white below. Females have obvious white lores. Resembles a miniature Great Antshrike with a black rather than red eye. Inhabits the understory of river islands with a high density of Cecropia trees. The song is a dry trill, resembling a rattle.
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Panyptila cayennensis
Small, fast-flying swift of humid tropical lowlands. Usually seen in pairs flying low over the forest canopy, but also ranges out over adjacent open areas, lakes, and rivers. Often in loose association with other small swifts, especially Vaux’s. Note the very narrow wings and long swallow tail, which is usually held closed in a long fine point rather than being spread to show the fork. The small size and bright white throat that contrasts with the black cap and body are distinctive.
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
Medium-sized wader with a long, slightly downcurved bill. Slightly larger than Dunlin, with longer and finer bill, longer legs. In flight note large white rump patch. Breeding plumage deep rusty on head and body (like Red Knot). Non-breeding birds are grayish-brown above with white eyebrows and belly. Juvenile is grayish above with neat scaly feather edgings, whitish below with variable buffy wash on breast. Breeds in Russian tundra and winters in Africa, Australia, and South and Southeast Asia. Mainly in coastal wetland habitats, often with flocks of Dunlin.
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