White-bellied Redstart
Luscinia phaenicuroides
A dark, medium-sized songbird with a long orange-sided tail, totally unlike any other redstart. Breeds in shrubby montane areas, particularly in the transition zone between forest and more open habitats; winters in similarly dense habitat at lower elevations. Male is predominantly grayish blue, with orange tail edges and a white belly. Female lacks the namesake white underparts and is instead brown overall with darker upperparts. Immature males have a blue head and chest, but are otherwise brown overall. Other redstarts in its range have a noticeably shorter-tailed profile. Song is an alternating series of clear, bell-like whistles and slurred whistles; most common call is a hard “tuktuk,” like stones knocking together.
Identification
The white-bellied redstart (Luscinia phaenicuroides) is a species of bird of the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam, where its natural habitat is temperate forests. The white-bellied redstart was previously the only species in the genus Hodgsonius. A large molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010 found that the white-bellied redstart formed part of a clade that included the common nightingale. The species was therefore moved to Luscinia.
Taxonomy
Genus: Luscinia; Family: Muscicapidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Luscinia phaenicuroides
- Authority
- (Gray, JE & Gray, GR, 1847)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Luscinia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Beautiful ground-dweller with black mask, clean white throat, and finely barred underparts. Male has an egg-yolk-yellow eyebrow, royal-blue “bib”, and black crown. Female has a dull tan-yellow eyebrow and brown crown. Both sexes have a bright blue tail and a white “racing stripe” down the edge of the wing. Inhabits a range of wooded habitats, from primary wet forest to overgrown plantations and dry scrub, in the lowlands and foothills of Java and Bali. Forages on the ground, either singly or in pairs. Gives a loud, bright “whOW!” and a low rolling trill.
Gorgeted Wood-Quail
Odontophorus strophium
Scarce quail restricted to cloud forest in the northern half of Colombia’s eastern Andes. Adult has distinctive black and white crescents on the throat, which may be reduced or lacking in young birds. Male has chestnut underparts and white spots on the breast; female has gray underparts. Shy and not often seen, but with luck it may be encountered in small groups that walk on the forest floor. Song is like that of other wood-quails, a long and rollicking series of whistles.
White-winged Black-Tit
Melaniparus leucomelas
A black tit with a mostly white wing and a white outer tail. Found in moister types of savanna, both broadleaf and thorny. Usually in pairs or small groups which are loud and conspicuous. Call is a classic tit “chee-chi-chi-chi-chi,” raspy and often repeated. The song consists of wispy, musical, up-and-down whistles. Very similar to White-shouldered Black-Tit, and best separated by the dark, rather than yellow, eyes.
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