Sikkim Treecreeper
Certhia discolor
Dark treecreeper with a warm rusty tail, thin white brow and mustache, and a gray chest. Warm tones on the tail contrast sharply with the cooler brown on the back and wings. Inhabits broadleaf and mixed forests, where it usually forages at the middle and upper levels. Unlike other treecreepers in the region, gives a long rapid-fire rattling trill instead of a series of high whistles and twitters.
Identification
The Sikkim treecreeper (Certhia discolor) is a species of bird in the treecreeper family. It is found in Bhutan, Nepal and Northeast India. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It inhabits broadleaf and mixed forests, where it usually forages at the middle and upper levels. The form C. d. manipurensis of southern Manipur and southwestern Burma has a rich cinnamon throat and breast, and molecular evidence and is usually now treated as a separate species, the Hume's treecreeper, C. manipurensis Hume, 1850.
Taxonomy
Genus: Certhia; Family: Certhiidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Certhia discolor
- Authority
- Blyth, 1845
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Certhiidae
- Genus
- Certhia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Louisiana Waterthrush
Parkesia motacilla
Brown-and-white denizen of bubbling streams and brooks. Look for white underparts with dark streaks, light buffy wash on the rear flanks, and bold white eyebrow. Stays on or near the ground, constantly bobbing its rear end up and down. Males sometime perch up high to sing. A very early migrant: arrives on the breeding grounds in eastern North America before most other warblers have even dreamed of starting migration, and arrives back on the wintering grounds as early as July or August. During the breeding season, favors fast-moving streams with lots of rocks to hop on. In the northern parts of its range, often in steep hemlock-lined ravines. Winters primarily in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it’s slightly less picky about habitat, and can be found around slower-moving water. Very similar to Northern Waterthrush, but whiter base color below, brighter pink legs, and broader white eyebrow. Also look for clean white throat (usually streaked on Northern). Best distinguished by song: several piercing clear whistles followed by a complex jumble of notes. Call note very similar to Northern: a loud, metallic chip.
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Anser erythropus
Generally uncommon medium-sized goose. Dark chocolate brown with a white forehead and bubblegum-pink bill. Similar to Greater White-fronted Goose: Lesser is slightly smaller and shorter-necked with a rather small, stubby bill, a distinct but narrow yellow eyering, and a more extensive white forehead. Usually seen as singles or small groups among flocks of other geese. Breeds in scrubby tundra and winters in agricultural fields, saltmarshes, and drier areas adjacent to wetlands. Gives high squeaks, often while in flight.
White-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis castaneoventris
Medium-sized hummingbird, male mostly green with bold white throat, white line behind eye, and blue crown. Gray tail in the western parts of range, blue in the east. Female not quite as colorful but still striking: bright buffy underparts with black cheek and white line behind eye. She is very similar to female Purple-throated Mountain-gem but has duller bronzy tail; only safely identified with a good view. A forest hummingbird that also comes out to edges and gardens, visits feeders.
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