Green-crowned Warbler
Phylloscopus burkii
Medium-sized warbler with green upperparts, yellow underparts, a bright yellow eyering, and a gray crown bound by two black stripes. Extremely similar to several closely related species; luckily, range prevents much confusion throughout these species’ natural ranges. Primary confusion species is Whistler’s Warbler, from which it may be distinguished visually, albeit with significant difficulty. In Green-crowned, note weak break at rear of eye-ring (while the eyering of Whistler’s is thickest at the back end), longer and more slender bill, shorter tail, more solidly black crown stripes, and slightly brighter green upperparts. As with many physically similar species, using a combination of these field marks is preferable in identification. Active, frequently flitting about in the lower levels of forest, sometimes associating with foraging flocks. Breeds in both evergreen and deciduous broadleaved forest in hilly and montane areas; moves to lowland areas in the winter. Averages lower than Whistler’s Warbler in altitudinal breeding preference, and overlap is fairly minimal. Song is a strung-together series of ringing “witchy-witchy-witchy” or “tzewee-tzewee-tzewee” phrases, and unlike song of Whistler’s, includes jumbled trilling segments. Call is a short, succinct “wit wit!”.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phylloscopus burkii
- Authority
- (Burton, E, 1836)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Phylloscopidae
- Genus
- Phylloscopus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- OR : Himalayas
- Non-breeding range
- n India
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Tristram's Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates tristrami
Dark brown, fork-tailed seabird of the northwestern and central Pacific, where it breeds on Japanese and Hawaiian islands. Generally forages far offshore and does not associate with boats. Dark chocolate-brown overall with prominent pale carpal bars. In optimal light, rump is slightly paler than the plumage of the back and tail, unlike in Markham’s and Leach’s Storm-Petrels; in fresh plumage, note gray sheen to head and back. Lacks the distinctively pale primary shafts of Matsudaira's and Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrels.
Willcocks's Honeyguide
Indicator willcocksi
A small honeyguide of forest and forest edge. Has a typical honeyguide appearance, being largely olive-green all over with the brightest green on the wings. Shows a pale belly with a hint of streaking and white outer tail feathers with dark tips. The throat is pale and the face is plain, lacking facial markings. Similar to other honeyguides in the region, but note plain face and distinctive song, which consists of typical honeyguide notes immediately followed by a bill snap, “p-REER-tk!”, sometimes repeated for hours on end and often from dedicated song posts that can be utilized for years.
Thick-billed Kingbird
Tyrannus crassirostris
Large kingbird with huge bill. Rather dark grayish-brown above with white throat and pale yellow wash on belly. Overall color and bill size make this kingbird unlikely to be mistaken. Most common in riparian woodlands with cottonwood trees; often perches up conspicuously. Also occurs in other wooded habitats like thorn forest and oak scrub. Gives some squeaky calls and twitters.
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