Collared Bush-Robin
Tarsiger johnstoniae
Male is unmistakable, with a glowing silver supercilium, black hood, and fiery orange shoulder and collar. Female is more somber in plumage, brownish above, buffy below, with a trace of the male's pale brow. White-browed Bush-Robin is superficially similar, but darker gray above, with a more prominent supercilium. Inhabits montane regions, often in forest edge or open areas above the treeline.
Identification
The collared bush robin is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long. The male and female are different. The male has a slate-black head with a white supercilium. The rufous upper breast, mantle and scapulars form a collar. The back is sooty-black, the wings are black and brownish-black, and the tail is black. The lower breast is buffish-yellow, and the belly varies from grey-white to buffish-olive. The beak and legs are black. The female has a less distinct supercilium. The upperparts are mostly dull olive-brown, and the wings and tail are dark brown. The underparts are variable. The throat and breast are warm brown, but the throat is sometimes blackish, and the breast can be pale yellow or yellowish-olive. The juvenile bird can be distinguished from the female by its pale buff streaks and spots.
Taxonomy
This species was described as Ianthia johnstoniae by William Robert Ogilvie-Grant in 1906: the specimens were collected by Walter Goodfellow on Yushan (Mount Morrison). It has also been included in the genus Luscinia. The species' eponym is named after Marion A. Johnstone, a well-known aviculturist to whom Goodfellow previously sent a specimen of a lorikeet.
- Scientific name
- Tarsiger johnstoniae
- Authority
- (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Tarsiger
Range and habitat
Endemic to Taiwan, this robin's habitat is montane and subalpine forests, usually at elevations of 2,000–2,800 m (6,600–9,200 ft) and sometimes above the tree line. It descends to lower elevations in winter. It lives in undergrowth of coniferous forests with shrubs and bamboo. It can also be seen in parks and along roads.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The collared bush robin is often seen in pairs and also singly. It catches insects by striking from perches, and it also forages for invertebrates on the ground and in low plants. Its calls include tuc notes with pi notes in between, a low grruit, and a combination of piping and grating notes. It sings from a perch, giving a series of phrases each consisting of two or three high-pitched, sibilant notes. Breeding occurs from March to August, and there are two broods per year. A territory is defended by the male and female. The female builds a cup nest made of plants and lays two to three eggs. The collared bush robin sometimes hybridises with subspecies formosanus of the white-browed bush robin.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-chested Snake-Eagle
Circaetus pectoralis
A medium-sized, mostly brown eagle with yellow eyes and an unspotted white belly. In flight it has brown-barred white wings. Immatures are mostly rufous. It is nomadic in savanna, plains, and semi-desert, where it forages primarily for snakes and lizards, sometimes hovering before dropping onto prey. Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle is similar but differs by having brown barring on the belly. Martial Eagle is much larger, has brown blotches on white underparts, and has uniformly brown underwings (visible in flight).
Philby's Partridge
Alectoris philbyi
Handsome partridge of the southwest Arabian mountains. Mostly pale gray and tan, with chestnut-and-white slashes along the sides, and a black face mask. In flight, shows dark wingtips and chestnut sides to the tail. Found in dry, rocky habitat at middle and high elevations, with a preference for bush areas. The common vocalization, given mainly early and late in the day, is an emphatic series of “chuk-chek-chuk” calls. Also gives clucking calls, especially when flushed. Similar to Arabian Partridge, but distinguished by the black face mask, and when in flight, by the chestnut in the tail.
Vitelline Masked-Weaver
Ploceus vitellinus
A fairly small weaver with a chunky bill. Always shows a red eye and a dark bill. Breeding male is distinctive, with bright yellow overall plumage, a black mask, and a variable chestnut wash on the breast and crown. Females, non-breeding males, and juveniles are much duller, but show streaking on the back and pale underparts. Found in a variety of savanna habitats, often in flocks. Breeding male is similar to several other weavers, but can be separated by the chestnut rather than black crown and the red eye. Plumages other than the breeding male’s can be hard to separate from other weavers, but can be cautiously identified by the reddish eye and overall size and shape. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a sizzling “radio static” song.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.