Sumba Flycatcher
Ficedula harterti
A small rufous-brown flycatcher. Rufescent above and pale below, with rufous patches on the breast sides. Occupies lower understory of lowland forest and forest edge, singly or in pairs. Juveniles show two pale wingbars. Confined to the island of Sumba. Combination of rufescent upperparts, absence of eye-ring, and entirely dark bill separates this species from Sumba Brown, Flores Jungle, and Asian Brown Flycatchers. Simple song is a short series of evenly pitched whistled notes, sometimes interspersed with a short, buzzy rattle. Also gives cicada-like “tzeeee” and “chikik” calls.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ficedula harterti
- Authority
- (Siebers, 1928)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Ficedula
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Odedi
Horornis haddeni
A small, round-bodied, cock-tailed skulking warbler. Appears three-toned: dark slaty gray below, chestnut brown above, with a paler rufous head and a slightly darker eye-stripe. Prefers dense undergrowth and tangles in forest or on forest edge above 600 meters of elevation, but locally lower. Song is a high-pitched whistle “o-de-di.” Also gives harsh scolding notes.
Blackish Oystercatcher
Haematopus ater
Distinctive large chunky shorebird of rocky coasts, adjacent sandy beaches and river mouths. The only all-dark oystercatcher in South America, readily identified by wholly dark plumage, long orange-red bill, thick pinkish legs. Found as singles and pairs, less often small flocks (mainly when roosting), and associates readily with Magellanic and especially American Oystercatchers. Loud piping whistles sound similar to American Oystercatcher.
Polynesian Triller
Lalage maculosa
A rather long-tailed and long-winged bird with a short stubby head, similar in proportions to a small cuckooshrike. Has a black crown, eye-stripe, back, and tail with a prominent white eyebrow, wide white wingbar, and white underside often barred brown or gray. Female is similar, but rusty-brown instead of black. Common in most habitats, including urban gardens. Similar to Long-tailed Triller, but separated by white eyebrow, underside barring, and wing pattern. Common calls include a loud, tacking “tchick” and a ringing “pee-chew.”
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