Lowland Sooty Boubou
Laniarius leucorhynchus
An entirely dark boubou found in thickets and dense vegetation. Widespread, but can be surprisingly rare and local in many parts of its range. A distinctively nondescript medium-sized skulking forest bird whose most obvious field mark is a lack of field marks, as it is wholly dark all over. The scientific name, which means “white-billed,” refers to young birds, whose bills start out white and darken with age. Similar to other species of sooty boubou, but Lowland Sooty Boubou is found at lower elevations and has a distinctive voice: a series of drawn out, ringing hoots or whistles, given singly or in short groups. Calls are harsh, sometimes mechanical chatters.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Laniarius leucorhynchus
- Authority
- (Hartlaub, 1848)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Genus
- Laniarius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Peacock Coquette
Lophornis pavoninus
Tiny hummingbird of tepui highlands. Both sexes distinctive: males have long cheek tufts with black spotting, while females are heavily streaked below. Both have a white rump band like other coquettes. Found only in humid forest and scrub in the tepui region. Feeds on nectar by infiltrating territories of larger hummingbirds; also presumably eats tiny insects. May be seen resting on exposed perches. Both sexes are darker than other coquettes in range, and this species typically occurs at higher elevations than others.
Brown Falcon
Falco berigora
Large-headed falcon with variable brownish plumage ranging from dark chocolate brown, to reddish, to tan. All have a dark moustache mark, long unfeathered lower legs, and a finely barred tail. Take care to identify dark birds from Black Falcon, which has feathered legs, and a more angular heavy-shouldered appearance. When gliding holds its wingtips up. Common resident in rural areas, often perches on power lines, fence posts. Populations tend to move when food and water is scarce.
Mountain Firetail
Oreostruthus fuliginosus
A chunky finch of upper montane forest edge and shrubby borders of subalpine grasslands. Brown head, brown back and wings, and red rump. Male has an orange-yellow bill and reddish belly. Female has an orange-yellow lower bill, dark upper bill and reddish sides. Juvenile has a brown belly and all dark bill. The adults are distinctive in their habitat. Juvenile Snow Mountain or Alpine Munias are also brown with a gray bill, but the juvenile Mountain Firetail is chunkier with a red rump. Voice, a strange rasping, squeaking song and a nasal “wek”.
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