Grauer's Warbler

Graueria vittata

Taxonomically unusual though not very boldly marked warbler. In poor light, or at a distance, looks dingy overall. A good look reveals a brown-olive back, and underparts that are heavily marked with fine barring. Found in thick understory tangles in montane forest of the Albertine Rift. Usually detected by its odd voice: a high, short, rising trill which sounds more like an insect than a bird. Most likely to be confused with Green-backed Camaroptera, but is larger, has a dark rather than red eye, and has fine barring below.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Graueria vittata
Authority
Hartert, EJO, 1908
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Macrosphenidae
Genus
Graueria

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Sri Lanka Junglefowl

Sri Lanka Junglefowl

Gallus lafayettii

Wild chickenlike bird. Male is burnt orange with dark streaks, cockerel-like glossy black tail, and a prominent red comb marked with yellow on the crown. Gray-brown female has white streaks and prominent barring on its wings. Terrestrial, found in pairs or small groups in forests of lowlands and highlands over much of Sri Lanka. Generally keeps to cover. Only confusion is with domestic chicken; note lack of white at tail base, and yellow marking on comb of males, and bars in wings of females in Sri Lanka Junglefowl. Song a harsh “chyok-cher-chow”. Also stuttering “kik-kik-kik-kik” notes.

Baudin's Black-Cockatoo

Baudin's Black-Cockatoo

Zanda baudinii

Black cockatoo with white ear patch and white tail panel. Inhabits moist eucalypt forest in the southwestern corner of Western Australia, where it eats seeds from large seed pods of Marri and Karri trees. Unlikely to be observed out on the coastal sand plains of Perth. Very similar to Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo but with much longer, pointed upper mandible. Calls include mournful wailing cries that are more clipped than those of Carnaby’s.

Tibetan Bunting

Tibetan Bunting

Emberiza koslowi

Handsome thickset bunting restricted to a small part of the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau where it inhabits scrubby slopes above the timberline. Unmistakable in its range; no other bunting in the area combines its size, brick-orange back, and gray belly. Male has a striking black-and-white head pattern while female is gray-headed with weak streaking. Song is an unmusical and unremarkable series of high, sharp “pi-pi-pipipew” notes.

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