Taliabu Fantail
Rhipidura sulaensis
A lively little rufous songbird with a conspicuously long tail that is often cocked and fanned. Upperside is rufous except for darker brown band at end of tail. Head is earth-brown with a rufous brow and a striking white throat. Black chest patch contrasts with buff underparts. Pairs or single birds regularly attend mixed-species flocks, mainly in forests of foothills and mountains, but also within lowlands. Restricted to Taliabu Island, where it is the only fantail. Song is a sequence of descending tinkling notes, followed by tremulous notes up and down the scale. Call is a low-pitched “chep.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Rhipidura sulaensis
- Authority
- Neumann, 1939
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Genus
- Rhipidura
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Russet-backed Oropendola
Psarocolius angustifrons
A medium-sized oropendola; fairly common in lowlands but seems to be scarce in montane forest. Can occur up to around 2,500m in the Andes, where it is usually the only oropendola and unlikely to be confused. Generally olive overall with warmer rufous tones on back and rump. Variable bill color: dark blackish in the Amazonian lowlands; usually yellowish in Andes. Yellow outer tail feathers like other oropendolas. Typically in flocks that forage in the canopy, sometimes in mixed flocks with other oropendolas or caciques.
Hairy-breasted Barbet
Tricholaema hirsuta
A big dark barbet of humid forest of low and middle elevations. The back is black with yellow spotting and the underparts are yellow with black striping and spotting. The head pattern varies geographically. The throat can be striped or solid black, and the face can be speckled (central Africa) or black with a white eyebrow and moustache mark (northern and western parts of the range). Somewhat similar to Yellow-spotted Barbet, but larger overall with a bigger bill and a dark cap. Usually detected by voice: a long, slow series of low, hollow hoots. Occasionally also gives a much faster tooting series.
White-fronted Nunbird
Monasa morphoeus
Fairly large gray bird with flat head and upright posture. Distinctive white forehead and chin and bright red bill. Sexes alike. Found in forested areas, often perched on an open branch at middle or upper levels; also can be seen at forest edges or clearings. Usually in pairs or small family groups. Often a flock leader; listen for its loud squawking and rollicking calls to find other flocking species.
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