Green Indigobird
Vidua codringtoni
Nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Peters’s Twinspot. Breeding males are glossy greenish-black, and in good light may show a paler gray wash across the head and breast. Females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown on the back, with a bold facial pattern and pale underparts with gray across the breast. The bill is whitish and the legs pale red. Found along forest edge, and in cultivation and moist woodland. The song is a fast mix of scolding and squeaky notes, often mixed with imitations of the vocalizations of its host twinspot: a fast, silvery trill. Similar to other indigobirds, but breeding male separated by its greenish gloss and all-black wings. Non-breeding male and female can be tentatively identified by the gray wash across the breast.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Vidua codringtoni
- Authority
- (Neave, 1907)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Viduidae
- Genus
- Vidua
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Tepui Parrotlet
Nannopsittaca panychlora
The most numerous small parrot in the tepui highlands. Plumage entirely green with somewhat darker wings and a distinctive pale crescent below eye. Inhabits humid forest at upper elevations, but occasionally wanders as low as 300 m. Forages in forest canopy and up to limit of vegetation on tepui slopes, feeding on fruit and flowers, but usually seen only in flight. May form flocks of up to several hundred individuals that commute long distances between isolated mountains; such flocks are occasionally seen high overhead in intervening lowlands. Very vocal; most typical call is a high, metallic chattering. Distinguished from Green-rumped and Dusky-billed parrotlets by lack of any blue tones in plumage, longer and bulkier shape, and more grating calls; at close range, eye crescent is diagnostic.
Gray Gull
Leucophaeus modestus
Distinctive and often noisy and conspicuous. The only dark gull in its range in the Humboldt Current. Common over inshore waters and along the coast on sandy beaches, at river mouths, and on adjacent rocky coasts, but breeds inland in remote areas of the Atacama Desert. Breeding adult has a white head while immatures are brown overall; all ages have slender black bill and dark legs. Immatures look like adults in 3 years.
Madagascar Green-Pigeon
Treron australis
Medium-sized chunky pigeon that is mostly pale green, with black wings and a pale wing stripe. Flight is very fast and direct. Sometimes found alone, though more often in small groups. Widespread but erratic; local abundance linked to the availability of fruit, its main food. Found in many habitats including spiny forest, dry deciduous forest, rainforest, villages, and scrub, mostly at low and middle elevations. Most common in dry habitats in western Madagascar. Voice is a quiet but maniacal series of sputters, whistles, and cackles. This is the only green pigeon within its range.
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