Marsh Babbler

Pellorneum palustre

A small, mostly brown bird with a heavily streaked pale breast. Note the white eyebrow, the white throat, and the rusty flanks and belly. Found in wetlands with dense grasses and reeds, where it is difficult to see as it forages for invertebrates. Best located by song, which includes a series of scratchy notes followed by 1-4 loud, musical whistles.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Pellorneum palustre
Authority
Gould, 1872
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Pellorneidae
Genus
Pellorneum

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Large Hawk-Cuckoo

Large Hawk-Cuckoo

Hierococcyx sparverioides

This species’ maddening song can be likened to the phrase “brain-FEVER,” which adequately describes what this bird gives birders trying to see one as it sings high up in the forest canopy. If seen well, note hawk-like appearance, with a long barred tail, brown upperparts, and patterned white underparts. Orangish flush on chest apparent in adults. Favors hill and montane forests when breeding; often found at lower altitudes and in forest edge and scrubby areas when migrating and on wintering grounds.

Pygmy Sunbird

Pygmy Sunbird

Hedydipna platura

A tiny-bodied sunbird in which breeding males are colorful and distinctive, and females and non-breeding males quite drab. Breeding males have a green back, a yellow belly, and extremely elongated central tail feathers. Females and non-breeding males have gray-brown upperparts and pale-yellow underparts. Similar to Nile Valley Sunbird, but there is very little overlap in range; males are distinguished by their lack of purple on the back and breast, and females by being darker overall and having a less distinct pale eyebrow. Also similar to female Beautiful Sunbird, but yellower below, with a shorter bill. The most common call is a rising “sweet,” and the song is a typical sunbird jumble. 

Scaled Woodcreeper

Scaled Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes squamatus

Fairly small woodcreeper with a short, slightly curved pale pinkish bill. Found in a variety of habitats including humid forests, woodlands, and dry forests as well as semi-desert areas. Uniformly rufous upperparts contrast with a bold white eyebrow, white throat, and scaly underparts. Occasionally follows mixed-species flocks. Similar to Scalloped Woodcreeper, which has a darker crown and a more rufous tail.

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