Orange-bellied Leafbird
Chloropsis hardwickii
The only leafbird within its range with an orange belly. Male is unmistakable with a blue-and-black face pattern, a solid orange belly, and green-and-blue wings. Female is green all over with blue cheeks and less extensive orange on the belly. The female can be confused with female Blue-winged Leafbird, but Orange-bellied has an orange belly and more blue on the face than Blue-winged Leafbird. Often moves about quietly in the upper layers of hilly and montane forests, gleaning insects from branches and foraging at fruiting and flowering trees. Frequently incorporates the songs and calls of other species into its vocalizations.
Identification
It is brightly coloured with an orange belly, a green back, a blue tail and flight feathers, and a black and blue patch over its throat and chest. It has a long, curved beak. It feeds on insects, spiders and nectar. Orange-bellied leafbirds make their nests from roots and fibers which are suspended from the edges of twigs at the end of a tree branch. They do not migrate.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Chloropsis hardwickii
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Chloropseidae
- Genus
- Chloropsis
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus aurantiifrons
A small fruit-dove of mangroves and disturbed forests in the lowlands. Bright orange forehead, white throat, gray chest which extends around the back of the neck, and pale purple spots on the wing. Small flocks often seen flying quickly over mangroves. Superficially similar to Beautiful Fruit-Dove, but Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove is found in more disturbed habitats and has a green rather than yellow belly and no dark red band. Call described as a series of soft “hoo” notes.
Red-billed Starling
Spodiopsar sericeus
Large and social starling of fields, parks, and farmland. Adult’s contrastingly and sharply demarcated white head in both sexes is unique amongst the region's starlings. Females are duller than males, but both have gray bodies and dark wings with a white patch. Juveniles are brown overall with a pale face. Gathers in immense roosts in the winter, often with White-cheeked Starlings. Noisy, often giving harsh and ear-splitting calls, particularly when flying in to roost.
Barred Puffbird
Nystalus radiatus
An unobtrusive bird with an oversized head and bill. Look for tiger-striped pattern—warm cinnamon-brown overall with uneven black barring. Also note slightly darker cap and staring pale eye. Uncommon; found around forest edge and secondary woodland in the lowlands from Panama to western Ecuador. Perches still for long periods of time, often on an exposed perch. Frequently detected by distinctive wolf-whistling calls.
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