Banda Sea Monarch
Symposiachrus mundus
A gray-and-white flycatcher-like songbird confined to the eastern Lesser Sundas. Head slate-gray with well-defined black mask and throat. Underparts bright white and upperparts slate-gray, with dark tail displaying obvious white outer feathers. Juveniles are grayish-brown above and cinnamon below, with white on face, throat, and neck. Singles and pairs frequent mixed-species flocks within understory of forest, forest edge, and mangroves. Lacks orange on breast, unlike Spectacled Monarch. Song is a high-pitched, descending whistled “seeeer.” Also gives a scratchy “k’schrrrr,” “schrrrr,” and rasping “weeee.”
Taxonomy
This species was formerly placed in the genus Monarcha until moved to Symposiachrus in 2009.
- Scientific name
- Symposiachrus mundus
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL, 1883)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Genus
- Symposiachrus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Phyllastrephus xavieri
A relatively colorful greenbul with an olive-green back, yellowish underparts, and a rufous tail. Found in the understory and at middle levels of rainforest, usually in small flocks. Readily joins mixed-species flocks, often alongside Icterine Greenbuls. Very similar in appearance to that species and best distinguished by voice, but slightly larger-billed, with less red on the tail and uppertail. The call is a slow series of nasal barking notes, quite different from the faster and higher-pitched series of notes given by Icterine Greenbul.
Asian Green Bee-eater
Merops orientalis
A small, dainty bee-eater of open woodlands, farmland, and sparse human habitation. Mainly green with a bluish throat, slender black eye mask and throat band, rufous or slightly rusty crown and back of the neck, and central tail streamers. Juveniles are duller than adults and lack the long tail feathers. In flight, note the rusty underwing with a black trailing edge. Flies gracefully as it catches insects and other prey. Calls are a series of gentle liquid trills or more staccato notes.
Berylline Hummingbird
Saucerottia beryllina
Medium-sized hummingbird, usually fairly common in foothills. Favors oak woodlands, adjacent brushy thickets, and shade-coffee plantations, in both drier and more humid situations. Feeds at all levels and often rather aggressively chases off most other hummingbirds. Note the bright rusty wing patch and rusty tail (which often has purple and bronze highlights). Lower bill is red, but is often hard to see. Sexes similar, but female has duller, less buffy belly; birds from Chiapas south have a green belly.
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