Black-faced Waxbill
Brunhilda erythronotos
Slim, pretty waxbill with a bold black facemask. Found mainly in dry thornscrub and woodland, especially in grassy areas. Usually in pairs or flocks of up to 30. Calls are a dry (often doubled) “tsip” and a whimsical, rising “tsew-tew-tweee”. Very difficult to separate from Black-cheeked Waxbill in the narrow zone of overlap in East Africa. Black-faced Waxbill usually shows more black on the belly.
Identification
The black-faced waxbill (Brunhilda erythronotos) is a common species of estrildid finch found in southern Africa. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The IUCN has classified the species as being of least concern.
Taxonomy
The black-faced waxbill was formally described in 1817 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot and given the binary name Fringilla erythronotos. The specific epithet combines the Ancient Greek eruthros meaning "red" and-nōtos meaning "-backed". The type locality is Kurrichane (Kaditshwene) in the North West province of South Africa. This species was formerly placed in the genus Estrilda. When a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2020 found that Estrilda was paraphyletic, the genus Brunhilda was resurrected for this species and the black-cheeked waxbill.<p>Two subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Brunhilda erythronotos
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1817)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Brunhilda
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Vaux's Swift
Chaetura vauxi
Very small swift with stiff, quick wingbeats. Grayish overall with paler throat and brownish rump. Relatively short-winged and short-tailed compared with other similar swifts. Often in small flocks. Listen for its high-pitched chips and trills. Feeds on aerial insects over a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, towns, and bodies of water. Multiple populations are surely distinct species. Migratory population breeds extensively in the western U.S. and Canada, wintering to Central America. Resident “Richmond’s Swift” occurs through much of Mexico and Central America, and is darker overall than migratory Vaux’s with a more contrasting pale throat and browner rump. There are also resident populations on the Yucatan peninsula and in western Venezuela, for which identification criteria are not well-defined. Range overlaps with several other similar swifts in Mexico and Central America. Vaux’s is smaller with quicker wingbeats than Chimney Swift or Gray-rumped Swift, with higher-pitched calls.
Andaman Nightjar
Caprimulgus andamanicus
A dark, medium-sized nightjar with a somewhat long tail and wings. The crown and back are markedly paler gray, and the white throat patch can sometimes be hidden. In flight, note the white patch on the outermost flight feathers. Found in open woodland, forest clearings, and mangroves. The song consists of 4-5 loud, hard notes delivered in a level series: “chowk-chowk-chowk-...”.
Tapajos Scythebill
Campylorhamphus probatus
A brown, tree-climbing bird with a strongly curved bill. Appears small-headed; plumage is mostly rufous-brown with buffy streaking on head and neck. Found in tall rainforest, where it is uncommon and locally distributed; often occurs in areas with extensive bamboo thickets. Generally shy and rather difficult to observe. Forages at middle and upper levels, using extraordinary bill to probe into deep bark crevices, bromeliads, and broken bamboo stems. Regularly follows mixed-species flocks. Song is a fast, rich trill, rising and falling slightly in pitch, often preceded by a longer overslurred note. Curved bill should immediately distinguish this species from other woodcreepers in range. Occurs in central Amazonia, south of the Amazon River, between the Madeira and Xingu Rivers.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.