Black-crowned Barwing
Actinodura sodangorum
The black crown and wingtips of this gray-headed barwing set it apart from other species within its range. Bright white eyering gives it a “goggled” appearance. Found at mid to high elevations, in both dense mature forest as well as in secondary growth and scrubby edges. Forages singly or in pairs, usually at upper levels. Song is a brief series of twittering hoots ending in one or two longer, drawn-out whistles.
Identification
The black-crowned barwing is the only bird in the Actinodura to have a black crown. It has transverse barring on the wings (wingbars) and presence of a crest, which are characters of the Genus Actinodura (barwings).<p>The colouration in black-crowned barwings is similar between the sexes. They have a grey head and nape, black crown and lore (space between eye and beak), white eye rings, dark brown irises, and dark beak with a flesh coloured tip. Its throat is streaked with black-brown on a base of rufous-orange that matches the breast and belly area. The posterior parts of the body (mantle, back, rump, and uppertail coverts) are olive-brown with indistinct dark bars. The wings have fine bars on the scapulars (upper wing section) and black-brown with chestnut or orange-buff bars on most of the flight feathers (primaries and secondaries). Their long tail is graduated chestnut with white tips and broad black bars.<p>[See External Links for Images.]<p>The lengths are approximately:
Taxonomy
The first black-crowned barwing sighting was reported in April 1996 at Ngoc Linh, Vietnam. Prior to survey, the central highland area of Vietnam was mostly ornithologically undiscovered. Many observations were made by Jonathon Charles Eames and Roland Eve, but took until 17 March 1998 to trap a male bird. An official species description was later published in 1999.<p>Black-crowned barwings consist of a monotypic group; having no other discovered subspecies. They were quickly classified into Actinodura since they are very similar to Actinodura ramsayi in appearance. Three plumage differences set them apart; the lores are black, the posterior is darker olive-brown, and the tail feathers are darker with narrower white tips.
- Scientific name
- Actinodura sodangorum
- Authority
- Eames, JC, Trai Trong Le, Nguyen Cu & Eve, 1998
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Actinodura
Range and habitat
They are residents of three locations in Laos and 7 locations in Vietnam. They are also found in Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) including the DakChung Plateau, Lo Xo Pass, and Ngoc Linh.<p>Their natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and plantations. Although they use degraded/cleared forests, they are mostly found in secondary growth or evergreen forests.<p>Their elevation maximum was at 2400m, with observers noting less sightings above 2200m. The minimum elevation range could not be determined properly since the site contained loss of forest habitat below 1500m, though there were sightings at 1000m.<p>[See External Links for Distribution map.]
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Sightings have been either of single birds or in pairs.<p>Most observations were of singing birds since they are easily identified through song and were responsive to playbacks, which was a commonly used technique. They call the most in early morning, decreasing through the day, which could be caused by rainfall reducing their activity.<p>They have two distinctive calls:<p>Their diet is not well known, but they are suspected to be insectivores that also eat vegetation. The bird is often seen foraging alone or with a partner around the smaller branches of tree canopy, trunk, and along larger moss-covered branches.<p>Mates are first attracted through calling, then move to small branches in shrubs while perching close or against each other. The male displays by raising his crest and half-fanning his feathers while the female opens her wings less frequently and leans steeply over her perch. They preen each other briefly and rapidly with light pecking, while switching positions. Instances of copulating or almost copulating involved the birds swinging full circle around a branch where their tail-bases would briefly touch while moving downwards. This behaviour is not known in barwings, but is more common in babblers (family Timaliidae).<p>Generation lengths are around 5.5 years.<p>Eggs and nest are undescribed.
Conservation
It is threatened by habitat loss and is considered Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown-crowned Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus phayrei
A large and vocal babbler of montane rainforest and shrubby edges. Note warm russet brown upperparts, a white throat blending to pale buff underparts, white-bordered black mask, and bright red bill. Forages actively in the dense midstorey, sometimes in mixed species flocks, and can be difficult to see well. Occasionally descends to the ground to rummage through fallen leaves. Can be readily mistaken for the similar Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler, but note Brown-crowned’s thicker bill and pale buff rather than white chest. Often gives harsh grating or excited chattering calls, as well as soft, oriole-like notes.
Fairy Lorikeet
Charmosynopsis pulchella
A small, long-tailed lorikeet of foothill and lower montane forest. Red head and chest with a darker belly, green back and black patch on the back of the head. Note the yellow undertail and tip, and yellow streaking on the breast. Similar to Josephine’s Lorikeet, but Fairy Lorikeet is distinctly smaller, has streaking on the chest and lacks josephines dark patch on the belly. Call, a soft, high-pitch “seep” note repeated. Sometimes several notes slurred together.
Bassian Thrush
Zoothera lunulata
Large thrush, greenish brown with black scallop marks above, pale with black scaly marks below. Smaller Russet-tailed Thrush has larger-appearing bill, is less strongly marked above. Bassian lacks white in tail corners, usually visible in flying or preening Russet-tailed. The smaller wingbar has less prominent pale tips in adult Bassian. Introduced Song Thrush has spots rather than scaly marks below. Inhabits wet forests, where it forages in leaf litter. Song recalls that of Common Blackbird, very different from Russet-tailed song.
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