Nkulengu Rail
Himantornis haematopus
A large brown rail with a paler face and throat, blood-red legs, red eyes, and a brown bill with a paler tip. Could be mistaken for a francolin, but note short tail and secretive behavior. Found in dense lowland forest and mangroves, where it usually, but not always, occurs near water. Named for its distinctive calls, “nku-nku-lengu,” with each call lasting approximately one second. Calls primarily at night, sometimes for several minutes straight.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Himantornis haematopus
- Authority
- Hartlaub, 1855
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Sarothruridae
- Genus
- Himantornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Caica Parrot
Pyrilia caica
Medium-sized, uncommon rainforest parrot. Combination of green body, brown collar, and black head is unique in range. Also occurs in lower-stature forests with sandy soils. Flies fast and low; usually seen rocketing past in small groups, through the forest canopy or just above it, disappearing quickly; odd, nasal calls are often heard just before such appearances. Like other parrots, forages on fruit and flowers in forest canopy.
Sri Lanka Myna
Gracula ptilogenys
Rotund, medium-sized black starling with yellow wattles on the nape, a stout, bicolored bill, and white flashes in the wing. Typically in small groups in the canopy of hill forest, and nearby gardens and woods. Note dark-based, bicolored bill, and only two wattles restricted to the nape, unlike similar Southern Hill Myna. Calls include a strident, downslurred “chewp”, given once or repeatedly, shorter in length than Southern Hill Myna. Also gives various rasping notes.
Reddish Myzomela
Myzomela erythrina
An attractive small myzomela in which males are brick-red, with a slightly darker patch in front of the eyes. Female has distinctive plumage that is mostly reddish-brown. Found in the canopy of primary rainforest and forest edge as well as secondary growth. Unique reddish coloration separates it from similar species. Common call is a repeated high-pitched, insect-like “tsip.”
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