Little Bronze-Cuckoo
Chalcites minutillus
A small greenish bird with a heavily barred throat, chest and tail. Lacks the dark stripe through the eye seen in Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo. Males have a prominent red eyering. Usually observed in thicker vegetation, such as mangroves and wetter forest. Has a distinctive call - a fast series of around 5 descending staccato notes and trills.
Identification
The little bronze cuckoo (Chalcites minutillus) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It was formerly placed in the genus Chrysococcyx. It is a common brood parasite of birds from the genus Geryone. This cuckoo is found in Southeast Asia, New Guinea and some parts of Australia, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is the world's smallest cuckoo. The pied bronze cuckoo was formerly considered to be a subspecies. Other common names for the little bronze cuckoo include the red-eyed bronze cuckoo and the Malay green cuckoo. It has 11 subspecies which are generally recognized.
Taxonomy
Genus: Chalcites; Family: Cuculidae; Order: Cuculiformes.
- Scientific name
- Chalcites minutillus
- Authority
- Gould, 1859
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Chalcites
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Northern Black-Flycatcher
Melaenornis edolioides
A slim, long-tailed all-black flycatcher with a dark eye. Found in savanna, woodland, and cultivated areas. Single birds or pairs sit out on conspicuous perches, sometimes quite low. Very similar to Southern Black-Flycatcher, but there is virtually no overlap in range, and Northern lacks gloss in the black plumage. Distinguished from drongos by the slimmer bill and dark brown eye. Could be confused with certain black cuckooshrikes or boubous, but has a more vertical posture, and sits motionless for much longer periods. Not very vocal, but does have a pretty song of various trills, wheezes, and whistles given with long pauses between phrases.
Russet-tailed Thrush
Zoothera heinei
Large thrush, adult rich brown marbled with dark marks above, pale with black scaly marks below. Larger Bassian Thrush has smaller-appearing bill, is more contrastingly marked above. In flight, Russet-tailed shows white in tail corners, absent in Bassian. The smaller wingbar has more prominent pale tips in adult Russet-tailed than Bassian. Inhabits wet forests, where it forages in leaf litter. Song a distinctive, thin “whee-doo,” falling in pitch, very unlike Bassian.
Jameson's Snipe
Gallinago jamesoni
Chunky snipe of very high elevations in the Andes. Plumage has a complicated pattern of brown, buff, and black; note extensive barring on underparts and thick, drooping bill. Might be confused with Noble Snipe, but does not have a white belly. Compared to Imperial Snipe, it is smaller and lacks the warm, cinnamon coloration. Jameson’s Snipe inhabits paramo grasslands and stunted forest near tree line. Shy and rarely encountered unless flushed, when it gives a burst of sharp, abrupt “kek” notes.
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