Black-headed Hemispingus

Pseudospingus verticalis

A unique little songbird found in the temperate zone of the Andes from extreme western Venezuela to northern Peru. Not bright, but distinctively patterned with a black head, a buffy central crown stripe, staring pale eyes, and a gray body. Pairs or small flocks forage through shrubby forests and edges, often perching on the tops of bushes. Follows mixed-species flocks. Occurs from around 2,700 to 3,400 m.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Pseudospingus verticalis
Authority
(Lafresnaye, 1840)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thraupidae
Genus
Pseudospingus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Swift Parrot

Swift Parrot

Lathamus discolor

Colorful migratory parrot with long red pointed tail. Breeds in Tasmania and migrates to southeastern Australia in autumn and winter. Found in a wide variety of forests, where its presence is largely dictated by flowering eucalypts on which it feeds. Adult bright green with red and yellow on face and a subtle blue-purple crown patch. In flight, shows bright red underwings and long red tail. Compare Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, which has shorter green-yellow tail. Calls include a sharp rattling as well as short, piercing squeaks.

Sulawesi White-eye

Sulawesi White-eye

Zosterops consobrinorum

A small songbird with a bold white eye-ring, dark eyes, a green back and forehead, a yellow throat and base to undertail, and a white belly. Groups and pairs roam woods, forest edges and patches, gardens, cultivated spaces, and scrub. Confined to lowlands of southeast Sulawesi. Occurs at lower elevations than Warbling White-eye, and differs from it in the dark eye and green forehead. Separated from Lemon-bellied White-eye by the white belly. Gives a slow-paced, high-pitched descending tinkling song, “chi-chiwit-chit-cher-cher.” Also high “zit” notes.

Bower's Shrikethrush

Bower's Shrikethrush

Colluricincla boweri

Sturdy songbird with substantial bill. Male brown above, peach-buff below, with black bill, grayish head, and pale throat and breast with faint streaking. Female and immature similar but with gray bill and thin orange eyering. Inhabits rainforest at higher elevations in the Wet Tropics region above Cairns in far northern Queensland. Song comprised of four quiet notes followed by three loud, ringing notes.

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