White-sided Flowerpiercer
Diglossa albilatera
Small flowerpiercer, male all slaty blackish and female fairly dark olive-brownish. Both sexes show white flash on sides, mostly obscured by wings but usually partially visible, especially with its frequent wing flicks. Bill is upturned with a hook at the tip, typical of a flowerpiercer. Found at middle elevations, around 1,800–2,800 m, in the Andes from Venezuela to Peru. Usually at forest edge or shrubby areas. Can be found singly, in pairs, or following a mixed-species flock.
Identification
A fairly small flowerpiercer - slightly larger than a black-capped chickadee and slightly smaller than a great tit. Length is 12.2-13.2cm, mass is typically 9.84-10.2g.<p>The male is a blackish-slate colour overall with the exception of white “sides” (pectoral tufts and underwing linings). On a perched bird these white markings are not always noticeable but when the bird flicks its wings as it frequently does the white flash is obvious. Females are olive-brown above and buffy-brown below, with the same white sides. Both males and females have dark brown irises, bills that are blackish (sometimes paler at the base of the lower mandible), and grey legs.<p>Immature males resemble females but their plumage is a duller brown with blurred streaks on the breast. Juveniles are dark grey-brown with their dark tipped feathers giving a faintly scaled appearance.<p>
Taxonomy
The species was first described as diglossa albi-latera in 1843 by the French ornithologist Frédéric de Lafresnaye. <p>The generic name Diglossa comes from Ancient Greek diglossos (double-tongued; speaking two languages). The specific epithet albilatera derives from Latin: albus (white) and lateralis (flanks). <p>The IOC recognizes four subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Diglossa albilatera
- Authority
- Lafresnaye, 1843
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Diglossa
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-browed Scrubwren
Sericornis frontalis
Small scrubwren with white eyebrow and pale iris. Has a dark face with a clear white eyebrow and chin stripe. Primarily olive-brown with a black-and-white shoulder patch and paler front. Chin is white with varying levels of black streaking depending on the location. This species is widespread across eastern coastal Australia, but is absent in the northern areas. Western edge of its expected distribution is the Mt Lofty Ranges east of Adelaide. Found in a wide range of habitats but typically only present where there is reasonably thick undergrowth. It often makes a grumpy buzzing call but also sings a clear musical song.
Fulmar Prion
Pachyptila crassirostris
Small to medium-sized prion with dark “M'' stretched across back from wingtip to wingtip, noticeable in flight. Fulmar Prion has poorly defined facial markings and a broad, dark tip to the upper tail. Breeds on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, and Heard Island. Relatively sedentary and usually only seen around breeding colonies year-round. Very similar to the more abundant Fairy Prion and generally only distinguishable when in the hand. Fulmar Prion has a heavier bill with a larger hook and slightly darker tip to the underside of the tail.
Superb Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus superbus
Tiny rainforest dove with white belly and white vent (compared to Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove which has a yellow belly and vent). Males have a thick black chest band and purple crown. Occurs in eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, and down the east coast of Australia (where it is more common in the north). Voice is often a short sequence of repeated hoots that don’t accelerate to the same extent as Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove.
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