Ala Shan Redstart
Phoenicurus alaschanicus
Male is very brightly colored, even for a redstart, with extensively orange underparts, white wing patches, and a gray cap. The female is plain and easily confused with other female redstarts; watch for its noticeably paler underparts and lack of white wing patch. Breeds in open upland areas with scrubby cover, including rocky scree scopes. Song long and rambling, consisting of grating, scratchy notes and fluty whistles.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phoenicurus alaschanicus
- Authority
- (Przevalski, 1876)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Phoenicurus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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An inconspicuous woodland species often first detected by voice. Note its slender build, dull coloration, and tendency to lean forward (often at 45°) when perched. The similar Great Crested Flycatcher has darker gray chest, brighter yellow belly, heftier bill and rustier tail. Vocalizations include a quick “sweet” and whistled “whit-it, did-id-oo.”
Yellow-billed Kingfisher
Syma torotoro
Small green kingfisher with orange head and bright yellow bill, found in wet rainforest on Cape York Peninsula and in New Guinea. In flight, note uniformly colored wings (no wing spots). Adult female has small black cap. Juvenile similar to adult but with black bill. Call a rolling, descending trill, rather like call of Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
Swainson's Sparrow
Passer swainsonii
A drab sparrow of northeastern Africa. The head and underparts are gray, the wing and back are brown, and the rump is rufous. Generally common within its range in all habitats except closed-canopy forest. Fond of human habitation. Very similar to Northern Gray-headed Sparrow, but there is little overlap in range, and Swainson’s has darker underparts. Also very similar to Parrot-billed Sparrow, but slightly smaller and slimmer-billed, with paler underparts. The call is a ringing “churp.”
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