Citrine Canary-Flycatcher
Culicicapa helianthea
A small flycatcher-like bird with a bold dark eye on a plain face, a pale eye-ring, olive-green upperparts, and solid yellow underparts. Singles or pairs sit upright within understory of forest, woodland, and plantations in lowlands and mountains, often attending mixed-species flocks. Separated from Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher by yellow chin and lack of gray head and breast. Told from Yellow-bellied Whistler by eye-ring, absence of white throat, and slimmer bill. Gives a simple high-pitched whistled song that rises and falls: “swit-soo-swit-soo.” Also gives a short, squelching “ti-rip” trill.
Identification
The citrine canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea) is a species of bird in the family Stenostiridae. The term citrine refers to its yellowish colouration. It is found in Sulawesi and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It has been observed gathering in mixed-species flocks, with species including Everett's white-eyes, black-naped monarchs, orange-bellied flowerpeckers, elegant tits, crimson sunbirds, garden sunbirds, and Negros striped babblers.
Taxonomy
Genus: Culicicapa; Family: Stenostiridae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Culicicapa helianthea
- Authority
- (Wallace, 1865)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Stenostiridae
- Genus
- Culicicapa
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Eremopterix griseus
A small, stocky bird with a heavy, finch-like bill. Males have a gray head that contrasts with a black eye-stripe, and black on the collar, throat, and underparts. Females are pale brown with weak streaks on the head, back, and underparts. Similar to Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, but Ashy-crowned males are told apart by the gray on the head. Females are difficult to distinguish. Inhabits dry scrub, fields, and rocky country. The song is often given in display flight, and consists of monotone whistles interspersed with buzzy notes.
Satin Berrypecker
Melanocharis citreola
First observed in 2014 and only formally described in 2021, this small, long-tailed bird has only been found in cloud forests at 900-1500 meters in the Kumawa and Fakfak Mountains of West Papua. Male is glossy dark blue above and gleaming white below (faint yellow wash sometimes visible); compare with male Fan-tailed Berrypecker, which has grayish underparts. Female has not been definitively described, but individuals provisionally ascribed to female Satins have been olive above and dingy grayish with faint streaks below. Foraging behavior is still poorly understood, but has been seen joining mixed flocks and foraging in areas with tree-ferns and epiphytic growth in middle levels of forest. Vocalizations largely unknown.
Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus pinskeri
A fairly large raptor of lowland and foothill forest in the southern Philippines. Dark brown above and whitish below with a streaked head and chest and a finely barred lower belly. Note the long hind crest and the chin stripe. In flight, shows barred wings and a fairly long tail both with a dark terminal band. Juveniles much paler. Remarkably similar to Philippine Honey-Buzzard, but head doesn’t project as far forward from the wings. Voice is a fairly high, screeching “week wik!”
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