Trilling Shrike-Babbler
Pteruthius aenobarbus
Adorable stout little yellowish bird of Java’s foothill and montane forests. Male is unique, with bright yellow underparts, flashing black-and-white wingbars, dark lores, and a deep rust-red throat. Female is more nondescript but still fairly distinctive, with cinnamon-and-gray wingbars and a light cinnamon tinge on the forehead and front half of the eyebrow. Both sexes have bright silver eye arcs and a dark line extending through the eye. Like other shrike-babblers, forages at middle and upper levels of forest, sometimes with mixed flocks. Song is a loud and repetitive series of high notes; calls are dry and buzzy.
Identification
The trilling shrike-babbler (Pteruthius aenobarbus) is a species of bird in the family Vireonidae. It is endemic to the island of Java. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the chestnut-fronted shrike-babbler.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pteruthius; Family: Vireonidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Pteruthius aenobarbus
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1836)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Vireonidae
- Genus
- Pteruthius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Other Birds
Cape Wagtail
Motacilla capensis
Elegant, long-tailed bird with a brownish back, pale underparts, and a black chest band. White outer tail is conspicuous in flight. Found in most open habitats, especially those near water. Feeds by walking along the ground, bobbing its tail constantly. Call is a buzzy “tseeei” that is often doubled. Song is a complex jumble of different repeated notes. Similar to Mountain Wagtail but has brown rather than gray upperparts, and Cape has less white in the wings and tail. Also similar to juvenile African Pied Wagtail but lacks a white panel in the wing.
Brown-backed Solitaire
Myadestes occidentalis
Slender, long-tailed thrush of mountain and foothill forests. Best known for its amazing song, given year-round; thus, sadly, often kept as a cage bird. Usually seen singly, perched quietly and rather upright at low to high levels in forest, but small groups can gather at fruiting trees with other species. Song sometimes given in fluttering display flight high over an open area between trees or above the canopy. Note the broken white eyering, narrow black whisker, and rich brown back.
Croaking Ground Dove
Columbina cruziana
Small, dirt-colored dove of desert lowlands, where it is often common in towns, parks, farmland, and semiopen areas in general. In pairs or small groups; feeds on the ground but often perches on wires. Flight is rather fast and direct, and usually low. Readily identified by diagnostic bright orange base on a rather stout (for a dove) bill. Male has more blue-gray tones than pinkish female. Call is a distinctive wet quacking or farting sound (not a croak), usually given in short series.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.