Austral Blackbird

Curaeus curaeus

Distinctive but understated, this wholly glossy blackbird with a rather long, sharply pointed bill occurs in a wide range of mainly open habitats, from town parks and farmland with hedges and bushes to mattorral scrub and open forest. Feeds on the ground, at flowers, and in trees on fruit, often in small flocks. Voice is highly varied, sometimes loud, and can draw attention. Fairly common in central Chile, becoming uncommon farther south and in Argentina. Compare with cowbirds, which are smaller with shorter bills.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Curaeus curaeus
Authority
(Molina, 1782)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Icteridae
Genus
Curaeus

Range and habitat

Migration
Complete migrants

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Bioko Batis

Bioko Batis

Batis poensis

The only batis on Bioko. Patterned like a typical batis, with a white belly and throat, black wings with a white bar, and a black face. Males have a black crown, a black back, and a black chest band, whereas females have a gray crown, a gray back, and a rusty chest band. Both sexes have limited white above the eye that can appear like a broken eyeline. Infrequently encountered but widespread from lowland forest to mid-montane forest, where it can be seen in forest and disturbed forest, including plantations. Songs include a series of high-pitched whistled notes, and a few harsh notes followed by a fast trill that descends slightly in pitch. 

Indochinese Bushlark

Indochinese Bushlark

Plocealauda erythrocephala

Short-tailed lark with a streaky brown back and inky black streaks on the chest. General coloration very similar to various other larks, but the shorter tail Indochinese Bushlark separates it from Australasian Bushlark and migrant or vagrant larks. Song is a series of clear cricket-like trills, given from the ground, a perch, or the air. Calls include similar trilling, as well as whistles. Inhabits open dry land such as fields and grasslands with small trees and bushes dotted around. Unlike skylarks, readily perches on trees and bushes.

Sabine's Spinetail

Sabine's Spinetail

Rhaphidura sabini

A distinctive swift of lowland forest with a square tail and bulging wings that are “pinched” at the body and widest in the center. Wings, back, and throat are blackish, while belly, tail, and rump are white. Could be confused with Cassin’s Spinetail, but Sabine’s Spinetail’s tail extends out beyond the wings, giving it a typical swift appearance. Call is a high-pitched twitter. 

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