Blue-headed Wood-Dove
Turtur brehmeri
A shy dove of lowland tropical forest, rarely seen away from intact forest habitats. Distinct from other small African doves in its uniform ruddy plumage and blue-gray head and hindneck. Call is a series of hollow hoots that increase in speed and sometimes waver slightly in pitch. Song is very similar to that of other wood-doves, but other wood-doves prefer more disturbed or more open habitats.
Identification
The blue-headed wood dove (Turtur brehmeri), also known as the blue-headed dove, is a medium-sized (up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long), rufous brown wood-dove with bluish-grey head, iridescent green patches on wings, reddish bill, dark brown iris, and dark red feet. Both sexes are similar. The young is duller in colour than adult. The blue-headed wood dove is widespread across the African tropical rainforest. The blue-headed wood dove nests in trees. The nest is made from twigs, leaves, and other vegetation. Its diet consists mainly of seeds, fallen fruits, insects, and small animals taken from feeding grounds. The female usually lays one to two eggs. Widespread and locally common throughout its large range, the blue-headed wood dove is evaluated as of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy
Genus: Turtur; Family: Columbidae; Order: Columbiformes.
- Scientific name
- Turtur brehmeri
- Authority
- (Hartlaub, 1865)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Turtur
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

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Serilophus lunatus
A small, quiet bird with a distinctly silky, smooth-feathered appearance. Shape and pattern unique and unmistakable; note thick black stripe behind eye, dark wings with a glossy blue panel, and broad-based pale bluish bill. Usually moves around through the middle layers of forest from lowlands up into the mountains. Does not often join mixed-species foraging flocks, instead tending to stick to medium-sized groups of its own species. Sometimes gives a smooth, fluid ‘teelee!’

Styan's Bulbul
Pycnonotus taivanus
Relatively plain songbird, olive above, whitish below, with black cap, white face, and black moustachial mark. Somewhat similar to more widespread Light-vented Bulbul, with which it hybridizes, but adult Styan’s has heavier bill, solidly black cap, white plumage surrounding the eye, and small red dot in black moustachial stripe (difficult to see). Juvenile duller above (greenish in wings), white below, lacking strong head pattern. Inhabits open forest, forest edge, parks, and gardens. Often perches on telephone poles or fences, from which it gives a melodic song similar to that of Light-vented but higher in pitch and more musical.

Saturnine Antshrike
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Fairly small antshrike. Males are dark gray with a black throat. Females are tinged brown above and tawny below with a contrasting whitish throat. Found in the understory of lowland humid forest. Often leads mixed-species flocks; occasionally attends army-ant swarms. Sings a series of gradually ascending notes that ends with a harsh final note. Similar to Cinereous Antshrike, which can occur in the same flocks, but differs in throat color and in song.
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