Bare-eyed Rail

Gymnocrex plumbeiventris

A large, long-billed rail with a bright chestnut head, neck, and back, olive-colored wings, a black rump and tail, and a gray undercarriage. Note the pinkish-red bare skin around the eye. Legs pinkish-red and bill olive. Pairs or small groups inhabit swampy riverside areas and lowland and hill forest. Very shy. In Aru Islands, overlaps with the much larger Chestnut Rail, but can be distinguished by reddish legs, chestnut head color, and black tail. Gives a dramatic, deep bellowing “kyow-kyow” call and piglike grunts.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Gymnocrex plumbeiventris
Authority
(Gray, GR, 1862)
Order
Gruiformes
Family
Rallidae
Genus
Gymnocrex

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
unknown

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Pied Goshawk

Pied Goshawk

Tachyspiza albogularis

A highly variable goshawk with pale, intermediate, and dark morphs. Pale morph is gray on the wings, back, and head, with a rufous collar and white underparts. Dark morph is entirely black with a pale eye. Intermediate morph is black on top and white below. Prefers forested habitats but appears adaptable, and is not uncommon around human settlements. Similar to the rarer Imitator Sparrowhawk, but larger and paler, with a pale eye. Pale morph resembles New Britain Sparrowhawk, but is larger, with a paler throat and a longer tail. Much smaller and slimmer than Meyer’s Goshawk. Often gives a crying “ki-ki-ki” during breeding season, but otherwise mostly silent.

Mindanao Plumed-Warbler

Mindanao Plumed-Warbler

Micromacronus sordidus

A tiny and uncommon bird of foothill and lower montane forest on Mindanao. Yellowish to off-white below with a small eyebrow mainly in front of the eye, brown upperparts, and a grayish head. Note the reddish eye and the long white plumes sprouting from the sides, lower back, and rump. Somewhat similar to female Little Pied-Flycatcher, but smaller, with white plumes. Voice includes constant high-pitched “seep” notes and a sibilant chatter similar to a white-eye’s.

Southern White-fringed Antwren

Southern White-fringed Antwren

Formicivora grisea

An attractive, fairly long-tailed antwren found from eastern Venezuela and Guyana to southeastern Brazil. Males are grayish-brown above and black below with a white eyebrow and white sides. Also note bold white spots on wings and tail. Females are bright tawny below, with bold white wing spots and an indistinct white eyebrow. Look for pairs foraging in the lower levels of dense shrubby woodland, often remaining fairly hidden and difficult to see clearly. Typically occurs in the lowlands up to around 1,000 m. Listen for series of rather musical clucking notes.

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