Red-throated Ant-Tanager

Driophlox fuscicauda

Fairly common in the understory of lowland tropical forest and woodland; also ranges into adjacent secondary growth. Usually in small groups, mainly comprising female-plumaged birds. Associates readily with similar Red-crowned Ant-tanager when attending army ant swarms. These two species are best told by voice: low rasping calls in Red-throated, high squeaky calls in Red-crowned (remember: the throat is lower than the crown). Male Red-throated has a small dark mask between the eye and the bill, and female has a contrasting buff throat.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Driophlox fuscicauda
Authority
(Cabanis, 1861)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thraupidae
Genus
Driophlox

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Solomons Robin

Solomons Robin

Petroica polymorpha

A small, attractive robin with a bright crimson chest and belly. Varies across range, but male is mostly black above and on head except for bright white forehead and wingbar. Base of undertail white. Female mostly brown above but bright red below. Generally unique and unmistakable within range. Inhabits hill and montane forest, ranging up to above 1000 meters of elevation. Voice varies across range but is generally a mix of high-pitched tinkling, sweet high-pitched tweeting, and whistling.

White-crowned Lapwing

White-crowned Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

This striking lapwing is best identified by its long yellow wattles, white belly, and gray head split down the center by a broad white crown stripe. In flight, the distinctive wings are almost entirely white with black tips. It prefers breeding and foraging on large permanent rivers with extensive sand banks but will also wander to smaller streams and pans. It utters a loud “kriiip” call when alarmed or defending its territory. The similar Wattled Lapwing differs from White-headed Lapwing by having a dark belly and red-based wattles.

Kerguelen Tern

Kerguelen Tern

Sterna virgata

A slender tern with a short bill. Breeding adults are dark-capped with an ashy-gray body, a strongly contrasting white cheek stripe and rump, and a reddish bill and legs. In flight, underwings and uppertail are mostly grayish. In non-breeding plumage resembles other non-breeding terns, but note structure. Restricted to a handful of subantarctic islands, where it forages in inshore waters; common on Kerguelen and uncommon on Crozet and Marion. In breeding plumage, the larger Antarctic Tern is paler gray than Kerguelen, with a larger bill and whitish (not grayish) uppertail and underwings. Arctic Terns (in non-breeding plumage) only overlap with Kerguelen Terns (in breeding plumage) in austral summer.

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