Purple-throated Cuckooshrike
Campephaga quiscalina
A forest-dwelling cuckooshrike in which males and females are strikingly different. Males are all-black with a purple gloss to the underparts. Females have an olive-green back, a gray head, and pale yellow underparts. Found in the canopy of various forest types, including gallery forest, lowland rainforest, and montane forest. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous. The most common vocalization is a downslurred “tsieuw.” The male resembles other black male cuckooshrikes, but is distinguished by its glossy purple underparts, though these can be hard to discern. The female is identified by its plain-green back.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Campephaga quiscalina
- Authority
- Finsch, 1869
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Campephagidae
- Genus
- Campephaga
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Chapin's Flycatcher
Fraseria lendu
An extremely drab flycatcher that is gray-brown on the back and slightly paler below. With a good view, the short pale line above the bill is visible. A scarce and localized species of humid forest at middle elevations. Similar to African Dusky Flycatcher, but slightly larger and completely unstreaked on the underparts. Separated from other flycatchers by its plainness. The call is a short, spitting trill and the song is a long series of whistles, squeaks, and trills, given at high speed.
Townsend's Shearwater
Puffinus auricularis
Endangered, small black-and-white shearwater, endemic to Mexico. Found around Socorro Island mainly from November to May, and rarely offshore between Jalisco and Oaxaca. It is usually found with feeding flocks of other shearwaters, boobies, and terns. Flight is fast and strong, wheeling fairly high in strong winds. Blackish above and white below with blackish undertail coverts, fairly long tail, and white patches or saddlebags that wrap up around the base of the tail. Similar species: Black-vented Shearwater is dark brownish above without the strong black cap of Townsend’s.
Perija Starfrontlet
Coeligena consita
Large, long-billed hummingbird found only in the Perijá Mountains along the border between Colombia and Venezuela. It is the only hummer in its limited range with buffy wing patches. Male has a golden belly, blue throat patch, and glittering green forehead. Female lacks those features but has a buffy throat. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Golden-bellied Starfrontlet. Inhabits cloud forest at high elevations, and often seen probing long, tubular flowers.
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