Gray-crowned Warbler
Phylloscopus tephrocephalus
Lively medium-sized warbler; a typical member of the “golden-spectacled” complex, with a bright yellow eyering, gray-and-black crown, greenish upperparts, and daisy-yellow underparts. Very similar in appearance to closely-related Bianchi’s, Whistler’s, Martens’s, White-spectacled, and Plain-tailed Warblers. On Gray-crowned, look out for a combination of features: a thin break at the rear of the eyering, a strong gray-and-black head pattern, bright greenish upperparts, and bright yellow underparts. Breeds from the lower foothills up to montane forests and forest edges, roughly between 1200 and 2500 meters of elevation, though elevational range depends on location; averages lower in elevation than Bianchi’s and Whistler’s Warblers, higher than Plain-tailed, and roughly the same range as White-spectacled and Martens’s. Winters in open forests and forest edge in foothills and lowlands. Forages at lower levels in the forest. Song is composed of short bright segments, usually starting with 1-2 introductory notes and ended with 1-2 musical trills or rapid series. White-spectacled has a similar song, but generally with fewer trills and at a lower pitch. Gray-crowned’s call is a rather cricket-like “chirrip.”
Identification
Lively medium-sized warbler; a typical member of the “golden-spectacled” complex, with a bright yellow eyering, gray-and-black crown, greenish upperparts, and daisy-yellow underparts. Very similar in appearance to closely-related Bianchi’s, Whistler’s, Martens’s, White-spectacled, and Plain-tailed Warblers. On Gray-crowned, look out for a combination of features: a thin break at the rear of the eyering, a strong gray-and-black head pattern, bright greenish upperparts, and bright yellow underparts. Breeds from the lower foothills up to montane forests and forest edges, roughly between 1200 and 2500 meters of elevation, though elevational range depends on location; averages lower in elevation than Bianchi’s and Whistler’s Warblers, higher than Plain-tailed, and roughly the same range as White-spectacled and Martens’s. Winters in open forests and forest edge in foothills and lowlands. Forages at lower levels in the forest. Song is composed of short bright segments, usually starting with 1-2 introductory notes and ended with 1-2 musical trills or rapid series. White-spectacled has a similar song, but generally with fewer trills and at a lower pitch. Gray-crowned’s call is a rather cricket-like “chirrip.”
Taxonomy
Genus: Phylloscopus; Family: Phylloscopidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Phylloscopus tephrocephalus
- Authority
- (Anderson, 1871)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Phylloscopidae
- Genus
- Phylloscopus
Range and habitat
Breeding range: OR : ne India to n Vietnam and c China. Non-breeding range: n se Asia.
- Breeding range
- OR : ne India to n Vietnam and c China
- Non-breeding range
- n se Asia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Spilornis elgini
A relatively small, uniformly dark brown eagle with a contrasting bright-yellow bare patch between the eye and the bill. The underparts are speckled with small white spots. In flight, the wings have narrow black-and-white bands and the tail has thick black bands. Juvenile similar to adult, but with a pale, cream-colored head. Often seen perched in trees under the canopy, from where it watches for small prey. Calls delivered in a series of 4-5 short, chirp-like whistles.
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
Merops nubicus
Large and gorgeous bee-eater with a mostly carmine body, and blue-green head and belly. The central tail feathers are elongated. In flight, reveals a blue-green rump, and rosy underwings with black trailing edge. Found in a variety of savanna habitats. Usually in flocks, and breeds colonially in riverbanks. Often perches on the backs of mammals and large birds, catching the insects that they disturb. The call is low-pitched and raspy, less musical than most bee-eaters. Similar to Southern Carmine Bee-eater, but there is virtually no overlap in range, and easily separated by the blue-green rather than carmine throat.
Spectacled Tetraka
Xanthomixis zosterops
Medium-sized, dull-olive tetraka, with a pale “spectacle” around the eye. Madagascar endemic that is found in the understory of rainforest. Often joins mixed flocks with tetrakas and other birds. Call is a series of silvery, sputtered “spit” notes. Separated from other tetrakas by its bold spectacles. Some birds in the northeast are dark, similar to the very rare Dusky Tetraka, but they can be separated by their brighter spectacles, paler underparts, and longer tail.
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