Sao Tome Sunbird
Dreptes thomensis
An enormous, striking blue-black sunbird with a scythe-shaped beak, red-brown eyes, a white-tipped tail and yellow-buff flanks, making it unmistakable. Female and juvenile are smaller than male. An uncommon endemic resident in lowland and primary forest below 2000 meters across São Tomé, preferring the middle levels and canopy. Found in pairs and small groups, probing bark like a creeper. Song is an uncomplicated high-pitched wheezy “tseeeuw-tsit-zlik.” Lekking males give a “tik-tik-tik” call that is not very sunbird-like.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Dreptes thomensis
- Authority
- (Barboza du Bocage, 1889)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Dreptes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Medium-sized honeyeater typically found in mangroves and adjacent coastal habitats. Back is brown-green; underparts are pale yellow with gray streaking. Black bill, yellow throat, and black patches over the eye. Much yellower than Mangrove Honeyeater. Often found in groups, in which it is typically quite noisy. Has a wide range of calls.
Princess Parrot
Polytelis alexandrae
Very long-tailed, pastel-toned parrot of arid inland western deserts of Australia, typically only seen by those deliberately searching for it in the remote Great Sandy Desert, although occasionally found closer to Alice Springs or Uluru. Male has glorious blue and lilac crown, pink throat, baby-blue lower belly, lime-green wing coverts, and bright red bill; female similar but colors less intense and extensive. In flight, long tail is obvious, as is the bright violet-blue rump. Calls include a sharp, ringing squeak.
Chucao Tapaculo
Scelorchilus rubecula
Fairly common to common in native temperate forest, adjacent shrubbery, wooded patches, and thickets along rivers and streams, especially with bamboo. Loud ringing song is commonly heard, but calling birds can be elusive. At other times can be confiding, walking out at close range as if curious, usually with tail cocked. Plumage distinctive, with bright rusty eyebrow, throat, and breast. Compare with the larger and fatter Chestnut-throated Huet-huet.
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