Forest Penduline-Tit

Anthoscopus flavifrons

Tiny, drab bird with a sharp bill, a dull olive-green back, and buffy yellow underparts and forehead. Found in lowland rainforest, secondary forest, and sometimes plantations, usually in the canopy. Uncommon and inconspicuous, in pairs or small flocks. Similar to Yellow Penduline-Tit, but much duller and found in different habitat. Could be confused with Tit-Hylia, but duller overall, without streaking on the head and breast. Could also be confused with some dull sunbirds, but has a shorter, deeper-based, and sharper bill. The vocalizations are very high-pitched “sit” notes that are easily missed.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Anthoscopus flavifrons
Authority
(Cassin, 1855)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Remizidae
Genus
Anthoscopus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Maroon Pigeon

Maroon Pigeon

Columba thomensis

A large, very dark pigeon with a grayish head, a burgundy body with scattered small white spots, and a bright yellow bill and legs. Female is duller than the male. A scarce species found singly and in pairs in the canopy of primary and secondary forest, more frequently above 1300 meters of elevation; attends fruiting trees. Mostly quiet and inconspicuous, but gives a rolling, growling “crrr-crrow-rrrow-rrrow-rrrow” and other low-pitched pigeon-like cooing. Smaller Sao Tome Pigeon has a gray breast and an iridescent green nape and lacks Maroon Pigeon’s yellow feet and bill. 

Spectacled Petrel

Spectacled Petrel

Procellaria conspicillata

Large, stocky, dark petrel. Look for the diagnostic pattern of white “spectacles” on the face. In flight, alternates slow wing beats with glides. Usually seen well offshore in relatively warm waters. Breeds only on Inaccessible Island. The closely-related White-chinned Petrel lacks the white face pattern.

Oriole Warbler

Oriole Warbler

Hypergerus atriceps

A large warbler with a long tail and bill. Odd and unique, with a somewhat oriole-like coloration: a black hood with white scaling, an olive-green back, and yellow underparts. With a good view, cannot be confused with any other bird. Prefers gallery forest in areas near water, though also found along rainforest edge and in plantations and mangroves. A skulking bird that is usually detected by the male’s song: an exuberant series of loud whistles, given in a variable, robin-like pattern. The female sometimes accompanies this song with low chattering scolds. 

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