Visayan Blue-Fantail
Rhipidura samarensis
A fairly small, long-tailed bird of lowland and foothill forest on Bohol, Leyte, and Samar islands. Overall dull blue in color with a paler belly. Often pumps tail up and down. Forages in the understory for insects and often joins mixed-species flocks. Similar in size and shape to Celestial, Short-crested, and Black-naped Monarchs, but darker blue with a contrasting pale blue brow, tail, and wing patch. Song is a slightly ascending series of medium-pitched, upslurred whistled notes, increasing in volume. Also gives a nasal, buzzing “gew!”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Rhipidura samarensis
- Authority
- (Steere, 1890)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Genus
- Rhipidura
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Spectacled Prickletail
Siptornis striaticollis
Small, brown bird of Andean cloud forest. Quite rare and apparently absent from many areas of seemingly appropriate forest. It has faint, pale streaking on the breast, a partial eye-ring, and a short white stripe behind the eye. Similar to Streaked Xenops, but bill is not upturned and lacks “whisker” stripes. Creeps along branches in middle levels of the forest, and often follows mixed-species flocks. Song is a quick series of high-pitched “tick” notes.
Wahnes's Parotia
Parotia wahnesi
A large, long-tailed bird of mid-montane forest canopy on the Huon Peninsular where the only parotia. Male is mainly black with an orange patch on the forehead, bronzy-scaled chest and 6 antennalike feathers projecting from the back of the head. Note the blue eye. The female is rufous-brown above with strongly barred underparts, black head and white bands through and below the eye. The male has an elaborate dance at a terrestrial display court. Female is somewhat similar to Greater Lophorina female but Wahnes’s is larger and longer-tailed. Voice, various rasps and parrotlike squawks.
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Saucerottia saucerottei
Fairly small dark hummingbird, green overall with dark blue tail. Straight, medium-length bill. Sexes similar. Usually seen feeding singly in flowers along forest edge, shrubby second growth, and gardens. Separated from Emeralds by longer bill, blue-and-white vent, bronze patch on rump, and less deeply forked tail.
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