Millerbird

Acrocephalus familiaris

A small old-world warbler that occurs only on Nihoa and Laysan in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Unlikely to be confused with any other species; the only other passerines on those islands are finches. Does not occur on the main Hawaiian Islands. Prefers dense, low vegetation. Usually secretive and hard to see well, but males sometimes sing from an exposed perch. Song and calls are harsh chirps and churring.

Identification

The millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Acrocephalidae endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Taxonomy

It has two subspecies, A. f. kingi and A f. familiaris. The nominate subspecies, the Laysan millerbird, became extinct sometime between 1916 and 1923. The former, the critically endangered Nihoa millerbird, remains the only race left, inhabiting the small island Nihoa in Hawaiʻi, though it has since been reintroduced to Laysan. It is the only Old World warbler to have colonised Hawaiʻi, although there is no fossil evidence that the species ever had a distribution beyond these two islands.

Scientific name
Acrocephalus familiaris
Authority
(Rothschild, 1892)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Acrocephalidae
Genus
Acrocephalus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend
unknown

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Canary Islands Chaffinch

Canary Islands Chaffinch

Fringilla canariensis

Dapper little finch endemic to the Canarias, where it inhabits a range of habitats, from forests to farmlands. Handsome, brightly colored male has a blue-grayish cowl, pale orangish face and breast, and a black-and-white wing pattern (colors muted in winter). Female much drabber but shares male pattern; especially note the complex wing pattern. Both sexes have white outer tail feathers, often striking in flight such as when flushed. Song is a somewhat buzzy series of up-and-down notes; calls include a somewhat sparrow-like “dwee!”

Madagascar Swamp Warbler

Madagascar Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus newtoni

Medium-sized, long-tailed, gray-brown bird. Note heavy diffuse streaking below and pale eyebrow. Madagascar endemic that is found mainly in marshes, though it will also use mangrove, heath, and moist scrub. Generally skulks in thick undergrowth, though it will sit out in the open to sing. Musical, reeling song: “chup-cho-we-we-we”. Similar to brush-warblers, but has more distinct breast streaking and white eyebrow, and is generally found in marsh rather than dry scrub or forest. 

White-flanked Sunbird

White-flanked Sunbird

Aethopyga eximia

A Javanese highland endemic, found from foothill forest and forest edge up into the low, scrubby growth above the treeline. Long-tailed male is stunning and utterly unmistakable, with a rose-red throat and chest, iridescent blue-green “shield” on the forehead, a smoky dark gray belly, and an iridescent blue tail. Female is much less eye-catching, with a gray head, buffish belly, and brown tail. Both sexes have an olive-brown back and a white streak on the side. Forages actively, sometimes in the lower storeys of forest. Gives bland series of chips, as well as a ringing “dink dink dink!” and a quick, descending “sweep”.

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