Varzea Schiffornis
Schiffornis major
Fairly small, orange-brown bird of forest midstory. Darker brown wings, and a variable amount of gray in the head. Found in tall forest in seasonally flooded and riverine areas, and forages singly or in pairs, not usually joining mixed-species flocks. Similar to some attilas, but has a shorter tail and a shorter, stubbier bill. Listen for its distinctive high whistled song, “tuw-tuwee . . . tee, tuweep!”
Identification
The varzea schiffornis (Schiffornis major), also known as the várzea mourner or greater schiffornis, is a species of bird that belongs to Tityridae family. It has traditionally been placed in the manakin family, but evidence strongly suggest that it is better placed in Tityridae, where it is now classified by SACC. It is found in most western regions of the Amazon Basin and Amazonian Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru; also regions of Venezuela. It mainly occurs in várzea.
Taxonomy
Genus: Schiffornis; Family: Tityridae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Schiffornis major
- Authority
- des Murs, 1856
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tityridae
- Genus
- Schiffornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Drab Hemispingus
Pseudospingus xanthophthalmus
Small, compact gray-and-white tanager. Found in high-elevation elfin forest and humid scrub around the treeline. Brownish gray above, paler white and gray below; note the light cream-colored eye. Pairs and small groups often join mixed-species flocks with other tanagers.
Crested Jayshrike
Platylophus galericulatus
This dark, medium-sized bird would be fairly unremarkable were it not for the exceptionally long crest sticking vertically out of its head. Sumatran and Bornean birds are brown, while birds on Java and the Malay Peninsula are black. Blocky white crescent behind the eye flashes as the bird moves through dense foliage in lowland and foothill broadleaf forests. Raucous; most commonly gives noisy rattles, also whistles and chips.
Lesser Roadrunner
Geococcyx velox
Slightly smaller version of the familiar cartoon Greater Roadrunner, but usually the two species do not occur in the same places. Favors dry brushy woodland and overgrown weedy fields in tropical lowlands and foothills. Can be very elusive, but at other times runs out in the road or sits quietly sunning itself on a fence post or bush top in the early morning. Note that the center of the throat and breast are plain rich buffy, without the dense dark streaking of Greater Roadrunner.
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