Golden Parrotbill

Suthora verreauxi

An attractive, social, and vocal small songbird but often difficult to see in the dense scrub and bamboo clusters it prefers. Greenish above, white below, with black throat and golden patch in dark wings. Usually inhabits foothill and upper-elevation forests, but will descend to lower elevations during harsh winters. Loud and vocal: gives chirps, squeaks, trills, and chattering calls.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Suthora verreauxi
Authority
Sharpe, 1883
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Paradoxornithidae
Genus
Suthora

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Snow Mountain Robin

Snow Mountain Robin

Petroica archboldi

A fairly small, localised bird of bare, rocky slopes above the treeline on certain peaks in the Snow Mountains. Overall sooty grey color, paler on the sides and belly, a narrow white band on the forehead and a large red patch on the chest. Perches on rocks from where it scans for prey. Unmistakable in its habitat. Voice, some harsh rasping notes.

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Polioptila nigriceps

Long-tailed little bird of dry forest and scrub in northwest Mexico. Found as singles, pairs, or family groups, usually foraging at low to middle levels. Breeding plumage male (March–August) has black cap, but other plumages very similar to Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a common migrant throughout the range of Black-capped. These species best separated by call note: Black-capped has lower and rougher call than mew of Blue-gray. Also note Blue-gray often has a pinkish base to its smaller bill (gray on Black-capped), a more distinct white eyering (face a little more "open" on Black-capped), and a shorter, less strongly graduated tail.

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Large, long-tailed sparrow. Usually shows a bold head pattern and contrasting white throat. Two morphs with different head colors: white-striped and tan-striped. Both morphs show a yellow patch in front of the eye, but it is more obvious on white-striped birds. Adults have a fairly plain gray-brown breast without bold streaks, but immatures can be quite streaky. Note the grayish bill, unlike White-crowned Sparrow. Breeds in coniferous or mixed forests, often near clearings. In migration and winter, can be found in woods, forest edge, thickets and shrubby fields. Whistled song often transcribed as "Old Sam Peabody" or "O Sweet Canada." Visits feeders.

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