White-tailed Tyrannulet
Mecocerculus poecilocercus
A small, pale, and active tyrannulet with a small bill. No bright colors; look for bold white eyebrow, pale yellowish rump, and two off-white wingbars. Tends to perch horizontally, often with its tail cocked up slightly. Flits actively, usually in the canopy and often part of a mixed-species flock. Occurs in cloud forest and edges from Colombia to Peru, from around 1,500 to 2,500 m. Similar to White-banded Tyrannulet, but smaller and found at lower elevations; also note White-banded’s thicker white eyebrow, gleaming white wingbars, and generally more contrasting plumage than White-tailed. Often detected by series of three or four squeaky “psee” notes coming from a canopy flock.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Mecocerculus poecilocercus
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1873)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Mecocerculus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Togo Paradise-Whydah
Vidua togoensis
A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Yellow-winged Pytilias. As with other whydahs, breeding males are spectacular and bizarre, whereas non-breeding males and females are drab and inconspicuous. Breeding males are mostly black with a rufous breast, a yellow back of the neck, and a long, narrow tail. Non-breeding male and female plumages are poorly known, but show a streaky brownish back and pale underparts. Generally scarce and local in savanna and cultivated areas. Breeding male similar to other paradise-whydahs, but has a longer and narrower tail. Separation of non-breeding male and female from other paradise-whydahs is poorly understood. Not very vocal, but does mimic Yellow-winged Pytilia vocalizations, which include simple, nasal “teew” notes.
Taliabu Masked-Owl
Tyto nigrobrunnea
A distinctive barn-owl species confined to Taliabu in the Moluccas. Shows a characteristic heart-shaped pale face bordered with a broad black line. Underparts are dingy buff with scattered spotting. Upperparts, top of head, and nape are largely uniform dark brown with indistinct pale spots. Thinly distributed in a variety of habitats including forest, forest edge, bamboo thickets, and open areas across a broad elevational range. Unmistakable: the only barn-owl species on Taliabu. Call is a coarse, shrill high-pitched shriek: “sheeeer.”
Australian Logrunner
Orthonyx temminckii
Distinctive, ground-dwelling rainforest bird with reddish-brown back, gray face, black wings with bold white wingbars, strong legs and feet. Females have black-bordered orange throat, males white, both with gray sides and white underparts. Difficult to observe, although in some areas habituated to hikers. Forages in rainforest leaf litter, usually in pairs or small groups. Squeaking calls, given at dawn and dusk, recall sounds of Guinea Pigs.
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