Austral Negrito
Lessonia rufa
Tiny little terrestrial flycatcher, common in open habitats of southern South America in summer, migrates north in winter. Feeds mainly by hopping on the ground, but perches readily on posts, fences, and low bushes. During migration times, sometimes found in small flocks mixed with other migrants of open country. No similar species in range: male is black with bright rusty back. The much plainer female is easily overlooked, but size, shape, and behavior distinctive, and is often with males.
Taxonomy
The austral negrito was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the larks in the genus Alauda and coined the binomial name Alauda rufa. The specific epithet is from Latin rufus meaning "red", "ruddy" or "rufous". Gmelin based his description on "L'alouette noire à dos fauve" from Buenos Aires that had been described in 1778 by the French polymath, the Comte de Buffon and illustrated with a hand-coloured engraving by François-Nicolas Martinet. The austral negrito is now placed together with the Andean negrito in the genus Lessonia that was introduced in 1832 by William Swainson. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
- Scientific name
- Lessonia rufa
- Authority
- (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Lessonia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Greater Ground-Robin
Amalocichla sclateriana
A medium-sized, pittalike bird of sub-alpine forest floor. Brown head and upperparts extending to the sides of the chest, pale gray underparts, with whitish throat, center of the belly and sometimes some scalloping on the chest. Note the strong bill and long legs. Shy and difficult to see. Same general shape and habits as the Lesser Ground-Robin, but Greater occurs at higher elevations and is much larger. Much more often heard than seen. Very distinctive, short, whistled phrase sounding like ‘What do you think?’ with the last note upslurred.
Rock Partridge
Alectoris graeca
This well-marked European endemic prefers rocky slopes and dry areas of hill and montane forest. Up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft), but can be found in lower-lying open flat areas with sparse grass and low bushes in some regions. Highly territorial and vocal, giving an irregular series of "chick chek pe-ti-chek chi-chek" notes, particularly in the early morning. Often runs away rather than flying. Throat is white, while similar looking Chukar has a creamy throat; virtually no overlap in range with other similar species.
Javan Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus bartelsi
Medium-sized eagle with short, rounded wings. Adult is dark brown above and white with heavy streaking and barring below. Perched birds show a prominent vertical crest. When in flight, note prominent “fingers”, black-striped white throat, and bold black banding on the flight feathers and tail. Juvenile has a pale tan head and underparts, a shorter crest, and paler black banding on the wings and tail. Pale morph Changeable Hawk-Eagle can be similar, but note present species’ more densely patterned underparts and wings, taller crest, and tan (not white) head in juveniles. Endemic to Java, where it is now largely limited to foothill and montane forests. Soars often, but also frequently perches silently in the canopy. Quiet, but occasionally gives thin yelping screams.
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