Golden-fronted Leafbird
Chloropsis aurifrons
Beautifully-colored bulbul-sized bird which manages to vanish into the green foliage. Orange forehead is diagnostic. Unlike several other leafbird species, sexes are similar. Inhabits lowland and foothill forested areas, where it forages predominantly in the canopy. Often gathers at fruiting or flowering trees. Exuberant warbling song has a distinctly scratchy quality. Calls include a fluid-sounding double note and various cheeps and rasping notes.
Identification
The adult is green-bodied with a black face and throat bordered with yellow. It has dark brown irises and blackish feet and bill. It has a yellowish orange forehead and blue moustachial line (but lacks the blue flight feathers and tail sides of blue-winged leafbird). Young birds have a plain green head and lack the black on their face and throat. The black of the face and throat appears slightly duller in females.<p>The southern Indian race, C. a. frontalis, has a narrower yellow border to black face. The throat is black and it has a blue sub-moustachial stripe and duller orange forehead. Towards the extreme south of India and Sri Lanka the race insularis occurs which is slightly smaller than frontalis.<p>Its song consists of rising and falling liquid chirps in bulbul-like tones and its call may include harsh whispers. They are also known to mimic the calls of other bird species and have loud calls.
Taxonomy
Formerly, the Sumatran leafbird was considered as a subspecies, but the two differ extensively in morphology and other characteristics.
- Scientific name
- Chloropsis aurifrons
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1829)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Chloropseidae
- Genus
- Chloropsis
Range and habitat
The golden-fronted leafbird is a common resident breeder in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia. Its habitat is forest and scrub.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper
Dendrocincla anabatina
Fairly common, but easily overlooked, medium-sized woodcreeper of humid tropical forest; infrequently seen away from ant swarms. Found singly or in small groups, often with Ruddy and Northern Barred Woodcreepers at army ant swarms. Mainly perches upright on slender trunks fairly low to the ground, less often at middle levels; often rather sluggish. Combination of face pattern, contrasting rusty wings, and behavior is distinctive. Usually rather quiet; at times gives plaintive mew calls and a prolonged chipping rattled song.
Little Hermit
Phaethornis longuemareus
Tiny, mostly warm brown hummingbird. Note distinctive curved bill; long, white central tail feathers; and dark brown throat. Found in understory of swampy forest, including second growth and abandoned plantations, primarily in coastal areas. Forages on nectar, visiting widely-spaced food sources and often seen flying between them in low, direct flight, giving a characteristic plaintive squeak. At close range, often detected by loud and erratic wing noise, like a large bee, as it weaves among understory plants. May pause briefly to investigate people. Males sing from low perches; song is a series of high, slurred notes with a distinctive pattern. Most similar to Reddish Hermit, but Little is much less rufous, lacks a black breast band, and is generally restricted to coastal swamp forests.
Capped Wheatear
Oenanthe pileata
Boldly-patterned open country chat. Note the white eyebrow, black mask through the eye, and black band across the chest. The outer half of the tail is black and the inner half white, which is conspicuous in flight. Found in desert, dry savanna, and short grassland. Often perches up on fences and other structures. Variable song is a fast series of clucks and whistles.
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