Black-throated Wren-Babbler
Turdinus atrigularis
Uncommon wren-babbler of Bornean lowland and foothill forests. Like most other wren-babblers, secretive and difficult to locate as it forages on the ground, usually in small groups. Best detected by its song, which takes two forms. “Short song” is a repetitive series of ten or so clear, hooting whistles, while “long song” can be up to three or four times the length and interspersed with more rising and falling notes. Duetting birds will often add an additional song element, a mellow rolling series of notes along the lines of “dee-dee-dee-da-doo-da-dih-doo.” If seen, note black throat, pale bluish-gray patch behind the eye, black-edged streaking with a “scaly” appearance, and chestnut wings.
Identification
The black-throated wren-babbler (Turdinus atrigularis) is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo (mainly southern Brunei and East Malaysia). Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It resides primarily in the understory. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is insectivorous.
Taxonomy
Genus: Turdinus; Family: Pellorneidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Turdinus atrigularis
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Turdinus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-eared Shrike-Babbler
Pteruthius melanotis
Colorful small bird with a cartoonish large-eyed appearance. Luminous yellow underparts, yellow-green upperparts, and dark rust-colored throat are present in both sexes, but female is slightly paler and not as strongly marked as the male. Overall can be very similar to Clicking and Trilling Shrike-Babblers, but lacks any reddish coloration on the forehead, has a more extensive silvery brow and nape, and is darker overall. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it joins mixed-species foraging flocks. Song is high-pitched, rapid, and repetitive: “tweeweeweeweeweeweewee.”
Greenish Schiffornis
Schiffornis virescens
Medium-sized olive green bird with a small head, massive eyes, and a short stocky bill. Olive-green apart from brownish wings and tail. Very secretive; found in the understory and middle levels of humid forests and second growth. The song is a loud double whistle.
Chilean Flicker
Colaptes pitius
No similar species in its range. Found in woodland, forest, matorral, and farmland with taller trees and hedges; often feeds on the ground. In some areas of central Chile nests in colonies in dirt bluffs, such as along roadsides; elsewhere usually nests in holes drilled in trees. Note the gray crown and plain buffy face (with dark whisker on male), big white rump patch, and yellow shafts to wing feathers (mainly visible in flight). Loud shrieking calls sometimes draw attention.
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