Arabian Serin
Crithagra rothschildi
Very plain gray-brown seedeater with a pale chin, blurry streaks running down the breast, and an olive-yellow rump, which is conspicuous in flight. Found in dry, rocky habitats in hilly and montane areas, which vary from dense woodland to areas with only scattered trees and bushes. Often in pairs. Has the odd habit of frequently flicking its tail. The song is a steady stream of musical whistles and trills. Similar to Yemen Serin, but has a weaker facial pattern and an olive rump.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Crithagra rothschildi
- Authority
- (Ogilvie-Grant, 1902)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Crithagra
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus tyrannus
Uncommon, spectacular, crested eagle of lowland tropical forest. Most frequently seen soaring in mid-late morning; rarely seen perched. Gives loud, far-carrying whistles while flying, which often indicate its presence. Adult is black overall with bold white checkering under the wings and bold white bands on the tail. Immatures, although rarely seen, are browner with a white throat and crown. The short bushy crest is usually apparent only on perched birds and is not seen in flight.
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Cacicus uropygialis
Medium-sized forest bird, mostly black. Look for combination of bright red rump (visible in flight) and light blue eye. Long, pointed, pale yellow bill. Usually in small flocks moving through the canopy of forest and edges.
Black-backed Cisticola
Cisticola eximius
A tiny, short-tailed, streaky cisticola. Note the rufous rump and variably rufous flanks. Breeding male has an unstreaked rufous crown. Female and non-breeding male have a paler brown crown with dark streaks. Found locally in short grassland, especially in seasonally flooded areas. Inconspicuous for most of the year. Usually seen when doing a flight display over its breeding habitat. Very similar to several other cisticolas, though usually distinguished by range. Zitting Cisticola overlaps widely in range, but Black-backed is separated by voice, richer overall coloration, and shorter tail. The song consists of a series of raspy “chree” notes, sometimes given along with wing snaps. Also gives explosive scolding notes and high-pitched whines.
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