Usambara Hyliota
Hyliota usambara
A medium-sized, generic-looking warbler-like bird of Tanzania’s Usambara Mountains with a blue-black back, a white wing patch, and a pale breast suffused with a yellow-orange tinge. Found very locally in humid foothill forest, where it forages in the canopy and sometimes joins mixed flocks with other birds. Easily recognized as the only hyliota within its tiny range. Can appear warbler-like, but separated from all warblers by the white wing patch. The vocalizations are not well known and seem to be easy to overlook, but do include quiet “pit” notes.
Identification
The Usambara hyliota (Hyliota usambara) is a species of Hyliota. It is found only in the Usambara Mountains in Tanga Region of Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Taxonomy
Genus: Hyliota; Family: Hyliotidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Hyliota usambara
- Authority
- Sclater, WL, 1932
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Hyliotidae
- Genus
- Hyliota
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Whistling Long-tailed Woodcreeper
Deconychura longicauda
Fairly small, warm brown woodcreeper with buffy spots on breast and vague buffy eyebrow. Note relatively short, straight bill. Very similar to many other species of woodcreepers but smaller than most others in range; tail relatively longer than most other woodcreepers but this is of limited use in field identification. Focus on overall shape, especially the vaguely “pin-headed” look and scruffy feathers on the nape. Generally found in primary forest, usually following a mixed-species flock. Best identified by voice, though not a particularly vocal species. Song is a series of very long, clear slightly rising whistled notes, each note a bit lower-pitched than the one before. Sometimes has brief stutters at the beginning or end of each note.
Sumatran Robin
Myiomela sumatrana
Medium-sized robin of Sumatra’s montane and foothill forests. Male is dark slaty-blue, with a bright white spot on the forehead. Female is warm earthy cinnamon-brown, with a slight grayish wash on the lower belly. Dark belly and male’s white forehead (instead of eyebrow) serve to distinguish this species from blue robins and shortwings. Shy and furtive, typically moving about quietly on or close to the ground, often in pairs. Song consists of a short, rising series of beautiful musical, fluty notes.
Golden-winged Cacique
Cacicus chrysopterus
Black-and-yellow cacique found in humid forests, montane forests, and second growth. Mostly black with a bright yellow rump and large yellow patch on the inner wing. Note the prominent white eye. A solitary nester that builds a long purselike nest. The song is variable and musical and it also makes soft whistles.
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