Red-rumped Tinkerbird
Pogoniulus atroflavus
A small barbet of forest and forest edge that appears large when compared to other tinkerbirds. The black upperparts contrast with the yellow wing feather edging, yellowish underparts, and yellowish moustache. When seen at the right angle, shows a bright red rump. While it is often found high in the trees, it sometimes descends lower, even singing near ground level in thick vegetation. This species can be confused with Yellow-throated and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds, but note Red-rumped Tinkerbird’s song, its more uniformly yellowish underparts, and, when visible, its bright red rump. Song is a long, continuous series of “po, po, po” notes given at a rate of about two per second. Also gives other shorter, faster trills reminiscent of other tinkerbirds.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pogoniulus atroflavus
- Authority
- (Sparrman, 1798)
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Lybiidae
- Genus
- Pogoniulus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Puerto Rican Euphonia
Chlorophonia sclateri
Endemic to Puerto Rico. A brilliantly colored, tiny, and active species of dense woodlands where it feeds at middle to upper levels, primarily on mistletoe berries. Sometimes joins mixed flocks. Easy to miss despite bright colors and flitting movements. Note small size, short tail, and small (though rather thick) bill. Male has a blue helmet, yellow underparts (including the throat), and a dark mask. Female is olive-green overall; note distinctive blue helmet and small yellowish forehead patch. Calls include a lively “beep” given singly or in series, a rapid “whip-ip,” a rough “djip,” and a plaintive “wheee.” Song is a rapid jumble of tinkling, squeaky, and whistled notes.
Henst's Goshawk
Astur henstii
A big, powerful goshawk. Adults are gray on the back with fine gray barring below; females much larger. Immatures have a brown back and thick streaks below. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is a scarce resident of all types of primary forest. Rarely sits in the open, and only occasionally soars. Territorial call is a loud repeated “khew” which is often given in flight. Males can be very hard to separate from similarly-sized female Madagascar Sparrowhawk. On Henst’s, look for fine bars on the undertail, a completely barred throat, and a central toe of normal length. Immatures may only be separable based on toe length. Also very similar to the rare Madagascar Serpent-Eagle. Subtle differences include slightly smaller size, evenly-spaced barring on the chest, thicker black bands on the tail, and an unbarred back.
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker
Dicaeum ignipectus
Tiny songbird of mountain and hill forests; ranges from the Himalayas south to the Malay Peninsula on the Asian mainland, with an isolated population in Taiwan’s highlands. Adult male is dark blue above and pale creamy white below, with a black stripe leading down the belly from a brilliantly red patch like a bloodstain on the breast. Female is much plainer, brownish-olive above and off-white below; lacks the bright white throat of Plain and female Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers. Often forages at flowers blooming in the canopy. Gives a high, thin, up-and-down “tsee’ip, tsee’ip, tsee’ip” and a rising series of ticks (often ending with more metallic notes); calls include dry tick notes and high, thin “tseet”s.
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