Chestnut-capped Flycatcher
Erythrocercus mccallii
A small, active flycatcher often found in small flocks or mixed-species groups in the understory of forests or patches of trees, constantly calling and moving its tail. Shows a reddish face, cap, and small crest, a buffy throat, and a reddish rump and tail. Shape is reminiscent of African Blue Flycatcher, African Crested-Flycatcher, and related species, but note Chestnut-capped Flycatcher’s distinctive patterning and vocals. Song is a series of short, high-pitched phrases with variable spacing between notes, and the calls are short “tsip” or “seep” notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Erythrocercus mccallii
- Authority
- (Cassin, 1855)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Macrosphenidae
- Genus
- Erythrocercus
Range and habitat
It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical swamps and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Bridled Tern
Onychoprion anaethetus
Tropical tern with gray back, black cap, and white forehead. Nonbreeding and immatures have a messy dark nape. Most similar to Sooty Tern but paler gray above with more extensive white tail edges, paler undersides of flight feathers, as well as longer and more slender eyebrow. Also compare with the paler Gray-backed Tern. Bridled Tern is found in warm tropical waters worldwide. It breeds on islands, usually concealed by a large rock or bush. Otherwise, usually stays far offshore, often seen perching on floating wood or debris. Rarely seen near land except when blown off course by a hurricane.

Black-crowned Palm-Tanager
Phaenicophilus palmarum
A slow-moving and occasionally tail-twitching species of woodland thickets and dense cover; often found in mixed-species flocks. Note its black face and crown that is boldly marked with white spots and contrasts sharply with an entirely white throat. The similar Gray-crowned Palm-Tanager has a gray crown and a gray center to the throat. Vocalizations include a high thin “tseeoo” and “ts” as well as a nasal “byu.”

Pearly Antshrike
Megastictus margaritatus
Distinctive antshrike with bold wingbars and white spots on the wing coverts. Males are gray and females rusty-colored. Found in the understory of humid forest and old second growth, where it occasionally loosely accompanies mixed-species flocks. The song is a distinctive slow and somewhat rising series of whistles followed by harsher notes.
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