White-spotted Flufftail
Sarothrura pulchra
Small rail of forest understory. Shy and elusive bird that is unlikely to be seen by those not expressly looking for it. Both sexes show a red hood and tail. The rest of the body is black with white spots in the male, and brown with buff barring in the female. Found in the wet understory of thick forest and adjacent scrub and gardens. Call is a series of several hollow hoots, often given repeatedly. Most other flufftails are not found in forest. Separated from Buff-spotted Flufftail by the white spots of the male and the red hood of the female.
Identification
The white-spotted flufftail (Sarothrura pulchra), also known as the white-spotted crake, is a species of bird in the family Sarothruridae. It has a widespread range of presence across the African tropical rainforest.
Taxonomy
Genus: Sarothrura; Family: Sarothruridae; Order: Gruiformes.
- Scientific name
- Sarothrura pulchra
- Authority
- (Gray, JE, 1829)
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Sarothruridae
- Genus
- Sarothrura
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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Sterrhoptilus affinis
A fairly small bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge; endemic to Luzon, though lumped with Visayan Babbler under “Black-crowned Babbler” by some taxonomies. Has a gray back and cheek with fine pale streaks, dark wings and tail with white outer tail feathers, white underparts, a pale rufous throat, and a black crown. Note the slender black bill. Often joins mixed-species flocks and sometimes hangs upside down while feeding. Somewhat similar to Green-backed Whistler, especially from below, but smaller, with a pale rufous throat and a black crown. Voice includes a medium-pitched “poo piuu!” with the second note downslurred.
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Large, streaky tinamou of upper elevations of the east side of the Andes. The highland version of Red-winged Tinamou, similar in voice and habits. Fairly rare and local in tall grass in the high Andes from NW Argentina to the La Paz area in Bolivia. Prefers steep hillsides and slopes, largely absent from the altiplano. From other montane tinamous by characteristic plaintive, two part whistled song, for which it is named (“HUAY-co”). Shy and retiring, can be quite difficult to see, most often found by voice.
Maxwell's Black Weaver
Ploceus albinucha
An entirely black forest weaver with piercing white eyes found in low-elevation and foothill forests, in small groups or with mixed-species flocks, sometimes with other species of weaver. Occasionally forms much larger groups, and will sometimes nest in large single-species or mixed-species colonies. Birds in the western part of the range have a silver nape, but birds in the east are wholly black. Western populations are nearly identical to co-occurring populations of Vieillot’s Weaver, but have a thinner, pointier bill and prefer more forested habitats. Vocalizations include dry chatters and soft mechanical rasps, sometimes given in complex combinations.
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