Red-crowned Malimbe
Malimbus coronatus
Adult female is an all glossy black forest weaver; adult male is similar but with a red oval patch on the crown that is not always easily seen. Juvenile is matte black with a chestnut crown. Scarce and patchily distributed, preferring the canopy of tall primary and secondary lowland and swamp forest. Often found in pairs. Vocalizations include a complex medley of weaver-like chittering “che-chur-chet” and electrical buzzing “dzrrrrrrr” and high-pitched downslurred “teooot-teoot” notes. Female cannot be safely separated from Black-throated Malimbe unless male is present.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Malimbus coronatus
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1906
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Malimbus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Asian Desert Warbler
Curruca nana
Sandy-brown warbler with glaring yellow eyes. Small and unobtrusive, usually skulking about in short trees and shrubbery. Inhabits a range of open habitats, including steppes, open woods, parks, and agricultural areas with scattered foliage. Whitethroats are somewhat similar in habitat and size, but are gray with heavier contrast between the underparts and upperparts.
Jerdon's Courser
Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
A delicate lapwing-like bird with a large eye and a short, bicolored bill. Note the strong white eyebrow and the brown breast with two distinct white bands. Nocturnal and extremely rare. Known to inhabit open, dry thorny scrubland. The call is a short series of two-noted whistles “tuick-tuoo.”
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella
Male distinctive, with bright yellow head, yellowish underparts. Female is drab and streaky, usually with yellowish wash to face, and often found with bright males. Note bright rusty rump. White outer tail feathers flash in flight. A species of heathland, forest clearings, and farmland with hedges. Male sings from a prominent perch, giving a dry and uninspired “dzidzidzidzidzi.” Forms flocks in winter, feeding mainly on ground in search of seeds. A native of Eurasia, introduced to New Zealand and a few adjacent islands.
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