Capped Conebill
Conirostrum albifrons
Small tanager-like bird found in the subtropical zone of the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. Sharp pointed bill. Male is dark blackish overall with cobalt highlights shoulder and rump, and a blue (south) or white (north) crown. Female very different: olive above with gray head and chest and yellow belly. Her blue crown can be difficult to see. Even in poor light, easily picked out of a mixed-species flock by its frequent tail pumping.
Identification
The capped conebill is 13-14 cm long and weighs 11.7-21.5 g. Males in the "albifrons" group sport a white crown, with a slaty-black face, breast and neck; a liberty blue shoulder and tail, and a navy blue back. Males in the "atrocyaneum" group have a deep blue cap, back, wing, and tail, and a glaucous shoulder; as well as a slaty breast, neck, and face. Females have a light blue crown and a blue-grey head, a dark yellow body and an olive back and wings. Both sexes have a black slightly-curved bill and grey legs.
Taxonomy
The capped conebill was described by Frédéric de Lafresnaye as Ptyonura albifrons, which he regarded as a synonym of Muscisaxicola. From the description provided, the type specimen appears to be a female. It is now placed in the Conirostrum with the other Conebills. The genus name Conirostrum comes from the latin words "conus" which means cone and "rostrum" which means beak or bill. Albifrons means "white-fronted" referring to the white crown that males in the north of the range have. There a currently six recognised subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Conirostrum albifrons
- Authority
- Lafresnaye, 1842
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Conirostrum
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Orange-throated Sunangel
Heliangelus mavors
Medium-sized hummingbird with a short, straight bill found in the Andes of Venezuela and eastern Colombia. Male has a green body, buff and green spotted underparts, and a glittering orange throat. Female has a buffy throat spotted with green. Found in cloud forest, including edges, pastures with trees, and gardens. Territorial, mostly found singly or fighting with other individuals close to flowers. Similar to female Amethyst-throated Sunangel, which has a white chest band; also similar to female Tyrian Metaltail female, but the sunangel is larger with a differently colored tail.
Pink Pigeon
Nesoenas mayeri
Very large pigeon with a pink head and underparts, brown wings, and a rufous tail. In flight, the pale head and rump patch are distinctive. Found locally on the island of Mauritius in humid forest, plantations, and secondary habitat. The common vocalization is a series of low, mournful hoots. Could be mistaken for Madagascar Turtle-Dove, but much larger, and easily separated by the pink head and rufous tail without pale corners.
Andaman Scops-Owl
Otus balli
A small, dark owl with bright yellow eyes and a yellow bill. Note the lack of streaking on the underparts and the small, pale flecks on the upperparts. The color of the plumage may range from bright reddish-brown to dark brown. Found in forests, where it is active only at night. The calls include an ascending, slightly accelerating series of “wup-up-up-up-...” notes.
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