Gray-headed Tanager
Eucometis penicillata
Small, uncommon tanager of humid tropical lowland forest, sometimes found at army ant swarms. Typically inhabits low to mid-levels of shady understory, as singles or pairs. Sexes look alike, with bushy gray head cleanly cut off from the rich yellow underparts and olive-green upperparts. Song is a rich squeaky warble, at times prolonged.
Taxonomy
The grey-headed tanager was formally described in 1825 by the German naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix under the binomial name Tanagra penicillata. Spix did not specify a type locality by this was later designated as Fonte Boa in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. The grey-headed tanager is now the only species placed in the genus Eucometis that was introduced by the English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1856. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek eukomēs meaning "with lovely hair". The specific epithet penicillata is from the Latin diminutive of peniculus meaning "brush".<p>Within the Thraupidae, the grey-headed tanager is a member of the subfamily Tachyphoninae and is the sister species to the black-goggled tanager in the monospecific genus Trichothraupis.<p>Seven subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Eucometis penicillata
- Authority
- (Spix, 1825)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Eucometis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Apalis flavigularis
A slender, long-tailed mid-story and canopy warbler-like bird with olive green upperparts extending to the flanks, a grayish face (sometimes extending to the forehead) with a striking pale lemon eye, and a bright yellow throat and breast bisected by a thin black bar. Pairs are resident in forest, forest edge, and plantations, where they may join mixed-species flocks. Song, often in duet, a strident repeated two syllable “ti-leep” from the male and a higher-pitched ‘ti-ti-ti….” from the female.
Northern Hawk Owl
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Unique medium-sized owl of the boreal forest. Remarkably long-tailed for an owl; reminiscent of a small hawk in flight with quick, snappy wingbeats. Pale eyes give it an angry look. Brownish overall with white spotting above, barred underparts, and spotted crown. Feeds on small rodents by sight and sound. Often seen perched on the very top of a spruce tree or snag, surveying the surrounding landscape for prey. When rodent populations crash, large numbers of Northern Hawk Owls can move south of their normal range.
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Small heron of wet and open grassy areas such as flooded meadows and paddy fields. Uniformly bright rufous upperparts of adult male unmistakable. Female and juvenile have pale streaked belly, dark streaks and spots scattered on the wings and back, and are dark brown with some rufous tones above. Females often have light spotting on the wings, potentially causing confusion with female Schrenck's Bittern, which has brighter and more solid white spots and a prominent dark crown lacking in Cinnamon. Gives dry croaking clicks.
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