Scaly Chatterer
Argya aylmeri
An unusual slim babbler with a very long tail. Paler than most other babblers in range, gray-brown overall with scaling on the breast, a yellowish bill, and pale blue bare skin around the eye. Found in areas of dense undergrowth within dry thorn savanna and thorn scrub, almost always in small groups. Somewhat similar to other babblers, especially Rufous Chatterer, but much paler and generally found in drier habitat. An inconspicuous and skulking bird that is usually detected by call: quiet, high-pitched “tsit” notes that sound like a dry twig scraping on a windowpane.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Argya aylmeri
- Authority
- Shelley, 1885
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Argya
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Green-backed Honeybird
Prodotiscus zambesiae
Small and incredibly nondescript honeyguide. Note the small, sharp bill and the white outer tail feathers. Found along forest edge and in broadleaf woodland, especially miombo. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous, though it will join mixed flocks with other bird species. Vocalizations are a quick series of “jyet” notes and an explosive “skyeat” given in flight. Very similar to Wahlberg’s Honeyguide, but has an olive-green rather than brown back. Separated from other honeyguides by its small bill.
Yucatan Jay
Cyanocorax yucatanicus
Common and conspicuous in woodland and forest edge of Yucatan Peninsula, where there are no similar species. Usually found in groups of 5-25 birds, often chattering noisily. Black and bright blue plumage is distinctive. The bill is black on adult birds, yellow on juveniles and 1st-year birds. The striking white bodied juvenile plumage is held for only a few weeks in late summer before being replaced by adult-like black feathering.
Collared Crow
Corvus torquatus
By far the most distinctive crow of farmland, fields, and other open spaces: adults black with white hindneck connecting to white breast band. Superficially similar to adult Daurian Jackdaw, but the latter is more compact and smaller, with pale plumage extending through the belly. Call is a higher-pitched cawing than that of Carrion and Large-billed Crows.
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