Mountain Tailorbird
Phyllergates cucullatus
Tiny warbler with a long bill and frequently cocked tail. Secretive, tending to stick to the brushy underlayer of hill and submontane forest. Often moves about solitarily, but can sometimes be found with mixed-species flocks, especially with small warblers and fulvettas. Green above and yellow below, with a pale gray throat. Somewhat resembles a Common or Dark-necked tailorbird, but only a fraction of the size, with a proportionally far longer bill, black eye-stripe, and bright orange forehead. Song is an extremely high-pitched tinkling series of whistled notes with an otherworldly quality. Calls include high descending trills and dry chittering.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phyllergates cucullatus
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1836)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cettiidae
- Genus
- Phyllergates
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Dusky Crested Flycatcher
Elminia nigromitrata
A slim, dark member of the fairy flycatcher family with a blackish head, a slight crest, and slate-gray underparts. Found in the understory of rainforest at low and middle elevations. Perky and active; never seems to stop moving. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks. Similar to White-bellied Crested-Flycatcher, but generally found at lower elevations, and has a dark belly. Also similar to White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher, but smaller, with a dark belly and tail. Reminiscent of Blue-headed Crested-Flycatcher, but smaller, and the underparts don’t show a sharp divide between a dark breast and a paler belly.
White-rumped Cuckooshrike
Coracina leucopygia
A chunky bird with a thick bill, a gray body, a black face, a beady eye, and a white belly and rump that contrast with a black tail. Paler juvenile shows barring on underside. Small groups frequent canopy in open wooded areas, mangroves, and swamp forest. Found only in a restricted range on Sulawesi and satellite islands. Differs from female Pied Cuckooshrike in having a pale eye, and also occupies more open habitats. Frequently gives an excited jangling call, “zrrrirup,” that rapidly ascends and then descends; also gives other chattering and rasping notes.
Coppery Emerald
Chlorostilbon russatus
Small, compact, short-billed and short-tailed hummingbird with reddish tail. Male all glittering coppery green; female coppery green above and gray below with dark cheek and white eyeline. Occurs in shrubby and second growth forest borders in montane regions. Often perched alone near small flowers at mid-height. No similar species in its very limited range in extreme western Venezuela (Sierra de Perijá) and northeastern Colombia.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.