Kretschmer's Longbill
Macrosphenus kretschmeri
An unusual warbler with a long bill and pale eyes. Dull brownish overall with slightly paler underparts. Found in humid forest at low and middle elevations, mainly in dense tangles at middle levels, usually in pairs or small groups. Similar in appearance to some greenbuls, but has a shorter tail and a longer bill. Most often detected by the distinctive song: a chirpy phrase of 3-5 whistles in an up-and-down pattern, usually repeated after a pause. The quality of the notes is reminiscent of a bulbul.
Identification
Kretschmer's longbill (Macrosphenus kretschmeri) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Macrosphenidae. It is found in Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Taxonomy
Genus: Macrosphenus; Family: Macrosphenidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Macrosphenus kretschmeri
- Authority
- (Reichenow & Neumann, 1895)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Macrosphenidae
- Genus
- Macrosphenus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Dotted Tanager
Ixothraupis varia
Small, beautiful tanager with bright uniform green plumage. Males have bluish wings and tail and scattered dots on breast. Note the dark lores. Females are all green and lack the dark lores. Found patchily in the canopy of humid forest and forest edges, typically in white sand areas or ridgetops, and often found with mixed-species flocks. Easily confused with juveniles of Yellow-bellied and Spotted Tanagers. The song is a very high, hissing “tsip... tsee-tseee-tsee-tsee-tsee”.
Helmet Vanga
Euryceros prevostii
Huge black vanga with a rufous back and an enormous blue bill. Rare and localized Madagascar endemic that is found in northeastern rainforest at low and middle elevations. Usually in the mid-story, perching motionless for long periods. Often joins flocks with other large vangas. Most easily located when nesting in a large mossy cup that is placed on a forking mid-story branch. Song is a long, delicate, high-pitched, slightly descending trill.
Crested Malimbe
Malimbus malimbicus
A mostly red-headed malimbe of forest and forest edge, sometimes occurring on farms, where it is partial to foraging on larger branches. Body is overall glossy black with a distinctive red head and a small black mask around the eyes. Has a red crest, but this can be hard to see at certain angles. Occurs in small groups or with mixed-species flocks, sometimes with other species of malimbe. Crested Malimbe is unique with its combination of red chin in males and females, red restricted to the throat on the undersides, and black vent. Like other malimbes, song and calls include mechanical rasps, dry chatters, and complex combinations of the two.
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