Sharpbill
Oxyruncus cristatus
A unique species with a patchy distribution from Costa Rica to Brazil. True to its name, the bill is sharply pointed. Both sexes are olive-green above and whitish or pale yellowish below with bold dark spotting. The orange crown patch is difficult to see. Not well known, but seems to occur mostly in mature forest in foothills from around 700–1,700 m. Often follows mixed-species flocks. Can forage acrobatically or perch upright for longer periods. Most easily detected by its strange song, a long descending whistle.
Identification
The sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) is a small passerine bird that is placed in its own family Oxyruncidae. It was formerly placed in the family Tityridae. Its range is from the mountainous areas of tropical South America and southern Central America (Panama and Costa Rica). It inhabits the canopy of wet forest and feeds on fruit and some invertebrates. It has an orange erectile crest, black-spotted yellowish underparts and scaling on the head and neck. As its name implies, it has a straight, pointed beak, which gives its common name. Sharpbills are most commonly found in tall dense forests but occasionally venture to the forest edge. Their diet consists of primarily of fruit, but they will also take insects, hanging upside down in from twigs to obtain insect larvae. They will also travel in mixed-species feeding flocks with ovenbirds, tanagers, woodpeckers and cotingas. The breeding system employed by this species is polygamous with closely grouped males displaying in from a lek. The nest of the sharpbill is built by the female and is a small cup built on a slender branch. Chicks are fed by regurgitation.
Taxonomy
Genus: Oxyruncus; Family: Oxyruncidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Oxyruncus cristatus
- Authority
- Swainson, 1821
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Oxyruncidae
- Genus
- Oxyruncus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray Antwren
Myrmotherula menetriesii
Small antwren of rainforest midstory. Males are pale gray with black and white wing bars. Throat is gray in most of its range, but in southwestern Amazonia the center of the throat is black (but never as extensive as the broad black bib of Long-winged Antwren, which also is overall a darker gray). Females are light buffy tan below, gray above, with no wing bars, appearing more two-toned than very similar but more evenly-colored female Long-winged Antwren. Often can be heard singing in the early morning, an even paced series of rising “wuee” notes at a pace of about two notes per second.
Writhe-billed Hornbill
Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni
A large rare bird of lowland and foothill forest on Panay and Negros, although almost extinct on the latter. Mostly black with a cream-colored tail with black terminal band, an orange casque, and a wrinkled lower bill. Male has a rufous head, a yellow pouch, and yellow around the eye. Female has a black neck and head, a smaller bill and casque, and blue and yellow around the eye and on the chin. The only other hornbill in range is Visayan, but Writhe-billed is larger, with a pale bill. Voice includes a three-noted throaty chuckle.
White-crowned Lapwing
Vanellus albiceps
This striking lapwing is best identified by its long yellow wattles, white belly, and gray head split down the center by a broad white crown stripe. In flight, the distinctive wings are almost entirely white with black tips. It prefers breeding and foraging on large permanent rivers with extensive sand banks but will also wander to smaller streams and pans. It utters a loud “kriiip” call when alarmed or defending its territory. The similar Wattled Lapwing differs from White-headed Lapwing by having a dark belly and red-based wattles.
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