Eastern Crested Berrypecker

Paramythia montium

A medium-sized bird of upper-montane forest and shrubland. Mainly slaty-gray color with green back and yellow lower belly and sides. Note the black face, chest and crest which it can hold up or down. Also note the striking white mark from behind the eye to the back of the head. Can be found singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, which sometimes join mixed flocks with other birds. Very similar to Western Crested Berrypecker, but little or no overlap in range, and separated by longer white mark behind eye, brighter green back, and yellow along the sides. Not very vocal, but does give various scratchy calls and a nasal “wek!”.

Identification

The species is 20–23 cm (7.9–9 in) and can be quickly identified by its characteristic black mask, pointed crest, and white eyebrow. Its plumage is largely blue and green with yellow undertail-coverts. The tail of the brevicauda subspecies is noticeably shorter than that of the montium subspecies.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Paramythia montium
Authority
De Vis, 1892
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Paramythiidae
Genus
Paramythia

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
unknown

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

White-eyed Thrush

White-eyed Thrush

Turdus jamaicensis

A medium-sized dusky bird that prefers moist montane forests, but can be also found in most wooded areas with dense vegetation. Feeds in trees and on the ground. Its namesake white eye is distinctive, but its bright broken white throat collar, contrasting so markedly with its dark plumage, is also unique. Shier than the somewhat similar White-chinned Thrush, which has a dark eye, orange bill and legs, and lacks a white collar. The White-eyed Thrush’s song is a long series of highly variable, repeated phrases (phrases most often repeated thrice, but commonly from two to five times). Calls include a plaintive whistled “weee-woooo,” with the first note slightly higher and a quick, almost ducklike “yak.”

Black-naped Tern

Black-naped Tern

Sterna sumatrana

A medium-sized, long-winged, long-tailed tern of warm tropical seas. Adults appear snow-white except for a thin black nape stripe that extends from the eye (often not very visible from a distance), black outer edge to outermost primary, and thin, long black bill. Hovers frequently while foraging and dips down daintily to pick prey from just below the water's surface. Flies quickly and lightly, often associating with Bridled, Roseate, and Crested terns. Breeds colonially on rocky oceanic islands and headlands. Call a grating “grrri.”

Great Tit

Great Tit

Parus major

Conspicuous inhabitant of woods, forests, parks, gardens, and hedges in farmland. Often visits bird feeders and uses nest boxes. Plumage is distinctive, with white cheeks surrounded by a black cap and bib. Male has a broader black stripe down belly than the female, and the juvenile (seen in summer–early autumn) has yellowish wash to face and drabber plumage overall. Underparts are bright yellow throughout much of range, but “Turkestan Tit” of Central Asia has a white belly. Appreciably larger and more boldly patterned than Eurasian Blue Tit, which often occurs alongside it. Listen for its distinctive high-pitched up-and-down song: “tsee-dee-tsee-dee-tsee-dee” and chattering scolds.

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