Atlas Flycatcher
Ficedula speculigera
Very similar and closely related to European Pied Flycatcher. Males have mixed features of Collared and European Pied Flycatchers, but note very large white wing patch and big white forehead. Also note the absence of a white collar and pale rump patch on Atlas Flycatcher. Females are very difficult to distinguish, but note gray upperparts with paler rump and big white primary base patch. Song is a cheery up-and-down series, quite similar to that of European Pied. Calls subtly different from European Pied Flycatcher with a slightly more metallic "whit" and a slower tempo. Inhabits a variety of wooded habitats in the Atlas Mountains.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ficedula speculigera
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Ficedula
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- AF : Morocco to Tunisia
- Non-breeding range
- w Africa
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Stripe-backed Bittern
Botaurus involucris
Very small, striped buffy heron of wetlands and lake edges with dense reeds and rushes. Boldly striped back pattern is distinctive. In flight shows contrasting broad rusty trailing edge to wings. Usually seen as single birds hidden in reeds or making short flights low over reeds or across patches of open water. Clambers easily and stealthily; hunts from perches over water, where sits patiently before stabbing at fish. Mostly silent.
Curl-crested Manucode
Manucodia comrii
A large, crow-sized bird of wooded habitats on the southeast islands. Black overall with blue iridescence on the shoulder, and purple on the flight feathers and tail. Note the distinctive, dorsally-flattened tail with folded tips and feathered bulge on the head. The only other manucode in range is Trumpet Manucode, but Curl-crested lacks the loose feathers around the neck. Similar size to Torresian Crow but Curl-crested has a dark eye. Song, a remarkable, descending series of hollow notes given while tilting backwards, then rolling its whole body up and over.
King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
Large, spectacular, and basically unmistakable penguin that is rarely seen away from well-known colony sites. The long and stout bill distinguishes King from the even larger but shorter-billed Emperor Penguin, which is a true Antarctic species, rarely seen far from ice. Also note the golden neck patches (can fade to whitish on immatures) and pink bill base (bill starts out black on immature). Breeding season requires more than a year, so birds can be seen year-round at colonies.
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