Rufous-crowned Eremomela

Eremomela badiceps

A small warbler-like bird usually seen in small groups or flocks foraging high above the ground in the forest or forest edge. Pale below with a distinct black chest band separating the white throat from the light gray belly, giving these eremomelas a distinctive “belted” appearance. Upperparts are uniformly gray except for a reddish cap and dark face. Overlaps locally with Turner’s Eremomela in the eastern part of its range, but note Rufous-crowned Eremomela’s extensive reddish cap and big, broad black chest band. Calls consist of a buzzy, sometimes multi-parted “brzrt,” as well as higher-pitched twittering calls sometimes interspersed with more whistled notes and trills.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Eremomela badiceps
Authority
(Fraser, 1843)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Cisticolidae
Genus
Eremomela

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Oriental Reed Warbler

Oriental Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus orientalis

In breeding range, this large, long-billed songster of expansive reedbeds can often be seen perched on top of a stalk belting its heart out, but on wintering grounds, it is more likely to be detected by a harsh, grating rattling from deep within the vegetation. Unremarkably plumaged, brown above, paler below, with a weak white supercilium and a short bristly crest, occasionally raised. Compare with other large reed warblers, especially Clamorous Reed Warbler.

Juan Fernandez Petrel

Juan Fernandez Petrel

Pterodroma externa

Large, rather long-tailed, and relatively big-billed petrel of offshore subtropical and tropical waters in the eastern and central Pacific; not seen from mainland. Named for Juan Fernandez Islands in Chile, where the species breeds. Main identification features are relatively large size, gleaming white underparts with small black “comma” on bend of underwing, and dark cap blending into gray of hindneck. Upperparts show darker “M” pattern common to many petrels. Much larger than Masatierra Petrel and other small petrels.

Henst's Goshawk

Henst's Goshawk

Astur henstii

A big, powerful goshawk. Adults are gray on the back with fine gray barring below; females much larger. Immatures have a brown back and thick streaks below. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is a scarce resident of all types of primary forest. Rarely sits in the open, and only occasionally soars. Territorial call is a loud repeated “khew” which is often given in flight. Males can be very hard to separate from similarly-sized female Madagascar Sparrowhawk. On Henst’s, look for fine bars on the undertail, a completely barred throat, and a central toe of normal length. Immatures may only be separable based on toe length. Also very similar to the rare Madagascar Serpent-Eagle. Subtle differences include slightly smaller size, evenly-spaced barring on the chest, thicker black bands on the tail, and an unbarred back. 

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.