Spotted Greenbul
Ixonotus guttatus
A distinctive rainforest greenbul with olive-brown upperparts, pale underparts, white spots on the wings, and white outer tail feathers. Found in the canopy of humid forest at low and middle elevations, usually in restless flocks of 5-15 individuals, but occasionally gathers by the dozens. Often flicks out one wing, an odd and distinctive behavior. Somewhat similar to nicators, but found in the canopy, and easily separated by the unhooked bill, the white tail edges, and the white rather than yellow spots on the back. Very vocal, constantly giving a penetrating “stick” call.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ixonotus guttatus
- Authority
- Verreaux, J & Verreaux, É, 1851
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Ixonotus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Oriental Pratincole
Glareola maldivarum
Twisting and turning on long, angular wings, this relative of the sandpipers and plovers gives a swallowlike impression in flight. Adults are brown overall with an elegant black necklace and pale yellow throat. When in flight, note dark flight feathers, chestnut underwing coverts, bright white trailing edge to the wings, and a flashing white rump. Juveniles are a mottled gray-brown above and lack the adult's necklace. Flight call a harsh “tarrack.”
Pied Cuckoo-Dove
Reinwardtoena browni
A large silver and black cuckoo-dove that shows obvious contrast between the light silver chest, belly, neck, and head and the much darker gray wings and tail. More confined to primary foothill forest than other cuckoo-doves in its range, which are smaller and less robust, lacking the distinctive silver-gray color scheme of Pied. Often betrays its presence with loud and clear calls, often a clear rising “woooow” followed by a more hoarse “whhhow.”
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
Distinctive large shorebird with a long, thin, upturned bill. Look for bold black-and-white wings and long blue-gray legs. Breeding adults have buffy-orange wash on head and neck; grayish in winter. Females have more sharply upturned bills than males. Widespread and fairly common in North America, although rare or absent from much of the eastern U.S. Usually seen in flocks, sometimes numbering into the hundreds, foraging in shallow wetlands or estuaries. Feeds by swinging its head back-and-forth through the water to catch small invertebrates.
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