Ornate Melidectes
Melidectes torquatus
A common and fairly large honeyeater of lower and mid-montane forest and clearings. Distinctively patterned with a black back scaled white, white belly with black scalloped flanks, black breast band, black head with large-orange yellow eye wattle, black chin and a small red mark in the base of the bill. Other melidectes co-occur but are larger and none have the white belly and breastband. Call, a loud, hollow “chok!” often followed by a slightly raspy, hollow warble.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Melidectes torquatus
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1874
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Melidectes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Brown-throated Parakeet
Eupsittula pertinax
Green above with paler yellowish belly and long, pointed tail. Average size for a parakeet. Distinctive brown cheek and upper breast usually quite obvious; can be trickier to see in flight. Almost always in small flocks, which feed inconspicuously on fruit in gardens, forest edges, and second growth. More obvious in flight; listen for grating, squeaky calls.
Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Passer griseus
Plain sparrow with a gray head and underparts, and brown back, wings, and tail. Found in a variety of open habitats, mostly in association with human settlements. The call is a simple “cheep” that is frequently repeated. Very similar to Southern Gray-headed, Swahili, and Parrot-billed Sparrows. Slightly larger and bigger-billed than Southern Gray-headed Sparrow, with a smaller pale shoulder patch. Paler underparts than Swahili Sparrow. Smaller bill and paler underparts than Parrot-billed Sparrow.
Ceara Gnateater
Conopophaga cearae
Plump rufous bird with a whitish belly and long legs. Males have a narrow white tuft behind the eye that can be erected when excited. In females, this is orange-gray. Has a small range in evergreen forest and coastal forest, where it forages in the understory. The song is a series of whistled notes that gradually become louder. The call is a sharp “tcheek!”
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