Meyer's Goshawk
Astur meyerianus
A rare, powerful raptor of hill and montane forest edge and clearings. Black upperparts and white underparts with fine black barring on the flanks. Yellow legs, eyes and base to the bill. Takes a variety of prey by swooping down on them in flight, especially pigeons. Adult common morph unlikely to be confused with any other montane species, but rare black morph very similar to black morph Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk and juvenile similar to the species too, although Meyer’s Goshawk has a dark eye rather than a yellow eye. Call described as a series of loud upslurred screeches.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Astur meyerianus
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1878)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Astur
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Black Cicadabird
Edolisoma melas
A medium-sized bird of foothill and lowland forest canopy. Male is all black, and female has brown upperparts, orange-brown underparts and a paler brow. Several starlings are black but have a different shape and behaviour. Black Pitohui is usually at higher elevations and has a thicker, hooked bill. Female similar to female Gray-headed Cicadabird but lacks black in the wing and tail. Also similar to Rusty, some races of Northern Variable Pitohui and Piping Bellbird, but has a pale brow. Voice, a long downward whistle and a rapid, repeated “wek-wek-wek…”.
Russet-winged Schiffornis
Schiffornis stenorhyncha
A chunky, dark brown bird of the forest understory. Occurs in the lowlands from Panama to Venezuela and Colombia. Uniform color, but slightly warmer rufous on wings and crown. Fairly large hooked bill is reminiscent of a vireo. Skulky and difficult to see; most often detected by voice. Listen for three-parted whistled song with one long note followed by two shorter notes.
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
Looks very much like a chiffchaff, and best identified by voice: song is pleasant, slightly descending warble, very different from song of chiffchaff. Compared to chiffchaff, Willow Warbler is often brighter, more yellowish (especially in autumn) with stronger pale eyebrow, pinkish legs, and tends not to habitually dip its tail. However, many birds seen are best left unidentified. Found in wooded habitats, from mixed forest to willow thickets in open country.
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