Sibilant Sirystes

Sirystes sibilator

Quite large flycatcher that lives mostly in the canopy of forests and woodlands. Grayish overall, but note the black crested crown, black wings with prominent white edges, and a dark tail. Usually accompanies mixed-species flocks acting as a flock leader. The song is a loud and descending “pepepew-pepepew.”

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Sirystes sibilator
Authority
(Vieillot, 1818)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Tyrannidae
Genus
Sirystes

Range and habitat

It is found from northwestern Brazil to northeastern Argentina. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

European Robin

European Robin

Erithacus rubecula

Distinctive and charismatic little bird with a bright orangey face and breast (easily hidden when facing away). Juvenile is very different, with bold pale buffy spotting on the back and breast. Found in a wide range of wooded habitats, including forests, gardens, hedges in farmland, and heathland, usually fairly near cover. Hops perkily on the ground, pausing to look around, often flicking its wings and cocking its tail. Also feeds by dropping to the ground from low perches, snatching up prey and flying back up to a shady perch. High-pitched song is highly variable, and incorporates a range of warbles and trills. Subsong is a rambling warbling series often incorporating odd fizzing and twittering notes. Calls include a dry “tic”, often given in bursts, as well as a thin, high-pitched, descending alarm call.

Slate-colored Solitaire

Slate-colored Solitaire

Myadestes unicolor

Slender, long-tailed thrush of humid evergreen forest in foothills and highlands. Best known for is ethereal, fluty song; thus, sadly, often sought for the cage bird trade. Usually seen singly, perched quietly and rather upright at low to high levels in forest, but a few may gather at fruiting trees with other species. Plumage slaty gray overall. Broken white eyering is thicker than Brown-backed Solitaire, which is more often a bird of pine-oak forest.

Jungle Bush-Quail

Jungle Bush-Quail

Perdicula asiatica

A small, plump terrestrial bird, roughly spherical in shape. Identified by its rusty throat and rusty-and-white eyebrow. Males have barred underparts while females have uniform pinkish cinnamon underparts. Found in dry stony scrub jungles and dry grasslands. Often seen in groups of 2–7 (but can occur in groups up to 20). Generally secretive until flushed when it suddenly bursts into flight, flying with weak whirring wingbeats low over the ground before quickly dropping into cover. Feeds on grass,seeds, and small insects.

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