Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus musicus
Medium-sized, strikingly patterned songbird endemic to Taiwan, where fairly common. Brown above, white below, with white supercilium, black mask, and heavy black spots on the breast. Downcurved bill is black above and pale below. Inhabits forests from the lowlands up into montane regions, moving through dense vegetation in small parties. Gives a range of different calls, including hoots and loud grating notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pomatorhinus musicus
- Authority
- Swinhoe, 1859
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Timaliidae
- Genus
- Pomatorhinus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-keeled Flowerpecker
Dicaeum australe
A small bird of lowland and foothill forest and more open woodland. Black upperparts are glossed blue, while white underparts are washed with pale gray. A red stripe runs down the belly. Note the fairly long slender bill. Similar to Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, but lacks the black line down the belly. Voice includes sharp, repetitive “chik!” calls, sometimes descending into a more varied, rapid series and a trill.
Andean Teal
Anas andium
Small duck found in high elevation lakes and wetlands from Venezuela to southern Ecuador. Dark grayish-brown overall with spotted breast and fine vermiculations on head. Dark gray bill. Sexes similar. Usually uncommon; not as numerous as its southern counterpart, Yellow-billed Teal. Typically seen in pairs or small groups.
African Darter
Anhinga rufa
A long and slender cormorant-like waterbird that often swims with its body submerged and only the “S”-shaped neck protruding from the water. Adults are mostly black with white flecks and streaks. Males have a rusty neck and a white stripe running from the eye down the side of the head, which is duller when not breeding. Females and juveniles are muted and brown. African Darter is widespread in freshwater wetlands, preferring placid to fast flowing waters. Cormorants have proportionately larger heads, bulkier necks, and hooked rather than bayonet-shaped bills.
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