Sabine's Puffback
Dryoscopus sabini
A relatively large-billed shrike-like bird primarily found in lowland forest canopy. Male is white below and iridescent black above except for a white rump. The female is overall reddish brown, with more reddish wings and a grayish hood. Similar to several bicolored shrikelike birds in the region, but note Sabine’s Puffback’s large bill, striking sexual dimorphism, and unique song, which consists of a distinctive series of long whistles descending in pitch before arriving at a single repeated pitch, growing louder, and then ending suddenly. Songs can sometimes last several minutes, and are more reminiscent of some Yellow Longbill songs than of the songs of other puffbacks. Calls include typical puffback-like rattles and harsh calls.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Dryoscopus sabini
- Authority
- (Gray, JE, 1831)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Genus
- Dryoscopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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Small cuckooshrike with a restricted range, found only on the Solomon Islands, as well as a couple small islands off of New Ireland. Males are mainly gray with black on the face, wing, and tail. Distinctive female is mostly rufous-brown, with buffy underparts. There is geographical variation, with females unbarred in most of the range, but showing barred underparts in some places. Found singly or in pairs in forest and forest edge habitats at low and middle elevations. Vocalizations poorly known, but include a long series of “chyap” notes.
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