Brown-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
The pale button eyes of this gull give it a somewhat fearsome appearance. Breeding adult’s head is the color of milk chocolate, lightening towards the bill. Non-breeding and first-winter birds have a dark ear patch and faint traces of the dark hood. All plumages may be confused with smaller Black-headed Gull, but note pale eyes and more extensive black on the primaries in all plumages. Breeds on high-altitude lakes on the Tibetan Plateau and winters on marshes, estuaries, lakes and rivers, most often in coastal areas.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
- Authority
- (Jerdon, 1840)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
- Genus
- Chroicocephalus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : inland Tibetan Plateau of Tajikistan, Xinjiang (w China), Ladakh (far nw India) and Tibet
- Non-breeding range
- inland and coastal Indian Subcontinent, sw China, w se Asia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Hippolais languida
A medium-sized, gray-brown warbler that looks very similar to other species. Note the rather stout bill and broad dark tail. Smaller and browner than Olive-tree Warbler and larger than Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. Wing panel is not as prominent as that of Olive-tree Warbler. Breeds on scrubby hillsides and river valleys; occasionally in flatter lowlands. During non-breeding season, found in a variety of wooded or brushy habitats. Sings from prominent perches—a repetitive, rapid mix of musical and scratchy phrases. Call is a harsh "chak."
Noisy Friarbird
Philemon corniculatus
Large gray-brown honeyeater with a completely bare black head and a distinctive "horn" on the bill. Upperparts are gray and underparts are dull white. Completely bare head is unique among the friarbirds. Typically very loud; emits a variety of harsh, loud squawks. Inhabits a wide range of habitats in eastern Australia, including (especially) open forests and gardens and parks, where it is common.
Gilded Barbet
Capito auratus
Large, boldly marked barbet of lowland rainforest. Plumage is variable: throat and breast range from yellow to red while the rest of the body is marked yellow and black. Found in a variety of habitats from forest edge to mature rainforest. Its hooting song is far reaching and can be told from other barbets by its pattern: a series of doubled hoots that accelerate.
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