Western Nicator
Nicator chloris
An unusual bushshrike-like bird with a heavy hooked bill, olive-green above and pale below with bold white spotting on the wings. The yellow corners of the tail can be conspicuous in flight. Found in rainforest, gallery forest, thickets, lush secondary habitat, and dense woodland. Skulking and secretive, usually remaining in tangled understory and mid-level vegetation. Very similar to Eastern Nicator, but their ranges do not overlap. Also similar to Yellow-throated Nicator, but larger, without a bright yellow throat and streak above the eye. Very vocal and most often detected by voice; the song is a quick jumble of wooden notes, and the common call is a penetrating “chaak.”
Identification
It is very similar to the eastern nicator, but the sides of the face and crown are olive green. It is best identified by its range and some of its vocalizations.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Nicator chloris
- Authority
- (Valenciennes, 1826)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nicatoridae
- Genus
- Nicator
Range and habitat
It inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical swamps. It prefers well-established secondary growth forest from 700 to 1,850 metres. It is mainly native to the African tropical rainforest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Zoe's Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula zoeae
A large pigeon of lowland and foothill forest. Pale gray head, yellow eye and short green tail. Pale pinkish breast and whiteish belly are divided by a distinctive thin, black breast band. Fairly common but not seen too often as it keeps more to the forest interior. Distinguished from all other imperial-pigeons by chest band. Its distinctive call betrays its presence. A long, muffled note followed by a series of chuckles “wooo wuhuhuhu wuhuhuhu”.
Quailfinch
Ortygospiza atricollis
Distinctive, tiny, short-tailed waxbill. Always shows barred breast and flanks, a red bill, and white edges to the tail. The pattern of the head and back vary across the range; can show a gray head and back (with or without a white spectacles), a brown head and back, or a black head with a brown back. Found in short grassland and other open habitats, usually near water. Inconspicuous on the ground; usually detected in flight. Call is a distinctive “jink”, most often given in flight.
Mealy Amazon
Amazona farinosa
Large, bright green parrot of humid evergreen forest in tropical lowlands. Uncommon. Found in rainforest and adjacent clearings, not in open habitats. Most often seen flying overhead early and late in the day, usually in pairs. Best field mark is the big pale eyering on a fairly plain head; with a good view, the bluish crown can be seen. Like other parrots in the same genus, in flight shows a red patch on the flight feathers.
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