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
Black-winged Lapwing
Vanellus melanopterus
Large, long-legged, upland shorebird with a brown back, a white belly, and a dark gray hood. Found in grassland and cultivation; only at high elevations over much of its range. Social; often found in flocks. Call is a high-pitched “chit-chit-chit” followed by a lower “chrrrey.” Very similar to Senegal Lapwing, but slightly larger and shorter-legged, with more white on the forehead, redder legs, and more black on the breast. Easily separated in flight, when Black-winged shows a white bar across the middle of the wing.
Rufous-winged Tanager
Tangara lavinia
Mostly green tanager, male deeper emerald with yellow back, mostly rufous head, and rufous wings. Female duller yellow-greenish but still with obvious rufous wings. Most similar to Bay-headed Tanager, but that species always has green wings. Usually seen in the canopy of forests and edges, often in pairs accompanying a mixed-species flock.
Budgerigar
Melopsittacus undulatus
Iconic small green and yellow parrot found extensively across inland Australia. Largely nomadic, according to food and water availability. Usually found in small flocks zipping around overhead, but can congregate in staggering numbers under the right conditions. All native birds in Australia are green and yellow with a beautiful scalloped pattern on the upperparts and fine barring on the head. Small introduced populations and escaped birds scattered across the globe can include various other color forms such as blue and white.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.