Blackcap Babbler
Turdoides reinwardtii
A mostly brownish babbler with a black head and a white eye. The underparts are pale in the west and become increasingly darker in the eastern part of the range. Found in moist woodland, dense savanna, scrub, gallery forest, forest edge, cultivated areas, and gardens. Almost always in groups, which feed by hopping across the ground. Similar in behavior, shape, size, and overall brown coloration to Brown Babbler, but easily separated by the black head and the lack of a contrastingly paler rump. Calls include a raspy babbling, nasal calls, and a dry clucking, all usually given by a whole group in chorus.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Turdoides reinwardtii
- Authority
- (Swainson, 1831)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Turdoides
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Eaton's Pintail
Anas eatoni
A small, mostly cinnamon-colored duck with dark brown cheek spot and a bluish bill with dark central ridge. Males have elongated central tail feathers and a green wing panel that is visible in flight. Mostly found on inland fresh water sources including lakes, streams and bogs. In winter forms coastal flocks of up to 200. Eaton’s Pintail is easily separated from the only other duck in its range, Mallard, by its much smaller size and its plain cinnamon appearance.
Papuan Sittella
Daphoenositta papuensis
Tiny, short-tailed bird with a thin, slightly upturned bill. All plumages show yellow eyering and heavy dark streaks on the back and belly. Different subspecies vary tremendously in head pattern, ranging from black-headed to white-headed, streaked to unstreaked. Inhabits montane rainforest, where usually seen in small flocks that methodically clamber along tree trunks, probing for insects in bark. Birds give frequent “chip-chip” call as they forage.
Taiwan Cupwing
Pnoepyga formosana
Minuscule endemic songbird. Short wings, very short tail, and rather long legs give it the appearance of a brown ping-pong ball set on tiny chopsticks. Dark brown above, black-and-white scaly pattern below. Constantly shakes its wings as if cold. Moves about on the ground and in low vegetation in montane forests, where very difficult to see. Song a loud, strident, high-pitched series of three whistled phrases, with a pause after the first.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.