Flores Minivet
Pericrocotus lansbergei
A small, long-tailed songbird that perches upright. Male is largely black with white underparts, a contrasting red breast patch, red wing markings, and a red rump and outer tail feathers. Female is gray, lacking a breast patch, but shows red marks in wings, a red rump, and red outer tail feathers. Juveniles are scaled below. Pairs or groups can be found in canopy of forest and forest edge in the lowlands and hills on Flores, where it is the only minivet. Vocal, often uttering twittering calls, a high-pitched “tzee-tzee-tzee” or “tzee-tzee-tzew.” Also gives a short, sharp “pip” note.
Identification
A small, long-tailed songbird that perches upright. Male is largely black with white underparts, a contrasting red breast patch, red wing markings, and a red rump and outer tail feathers. Female is gray, lacking a breast patch, but shows red marks in wings, a red rump, and red outer tail feathers. Juveniles are scaled below. Pairs or groups can be found in canopy of forest and forest edge in the lowlands and hills on Flores, where it is the only minivet. Vocal, often uttering twittering calls, a high-pitched “tzee-tzee-tzee” or “tzee-tzee-tzew.” Also gives a short, sharp “pip” note.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pericrocotus; Family: Campephagidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Pericrocotus lansbergei
- Authority
- Büttikofer, 1886
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Campephagidae
- Genus
- Pericrocotus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Tumbes Swallow
Tachycineta stolzmanni
Desert-loving swallow of northwestern Peru; occasionally (perhaps seasonally) crosses over the border into southwestern Ecuador. The only swallow in its limited range with a white rump. Underparts are faintly streaked, though this is only evident from close range. Entirely white lower underparts help separate it from Blue-and-white Swallow. Usually seen in pairs or small groups circling over desolate habitat or perched atop a small bush or tree.
Gorgeted Woodstar
Chaetocercus heliodor
Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like bumblebees. Gorgeted Woodstar is found in the subtropical and temperate zone of the Andes from Venezuela to Ecuador, where it inhabits cloud forest, edges, and second growth. Males are deep emerald-green (more of a bluish tone than other woodstars) with a glittering wine-colored throat and white patches on the sides of the rump. Females are trickier; note the rufous rump and tail with a black band at the base, extremely small size, short tail, and buffy infusion on the throat. On both sexes, bill often appears slightly decurved, more than other woodstars. Sometimes seen singly feeding in the canopy or at lower patches of flowers. Visits feeders.
Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant
Myiotheretes pernix
Scarce flycatcher found only at higher elevations in Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. Quite similar to the more widespread Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, but can be distinguished by the indistinct and less extensive streaking on the throat and lack of cinnamon at the base of the underside of the tail; whistled calls are shorter, clearer, and descend more in pitch. Usually seen perched high in the canopy of cloud forest. Regularly encountered in the upper parts of El Dorado Nature Reserve.
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