Visayan Fantail
Rhipidura albiventris
A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of forest from the lowlands to low elevations in the mountains in the west-central Philippines. Dull blue on the head, chest, back, and shoulder, with some paler blue streaking on the chest and crown. Has a white belly and a rufous lower back, outer tail feathers, and wing, with dark central tail feathers and a dark edge to the wing. Often cocks and fans tail while foraging. Similar to Black-naped Monarch, but has rufous rump and tail. Voice is a single, nasal “jep” note given at intervals or sped up into a rapid series.
Identification
EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of forest . Dull blue on the head, chest, back, and shoulder, with some paler blue streaking on the chest and crown. Has a white belly and a rufous lower back, outer tail feathers, and wing, with dark central tail feathers and a dark edge to the wing. Often cocks and fans tail while foraging. Similar to Black-naped Monarch, but has rufous rump and tail. Voice is a single, nasal 'jep' note given at intervals or sped up into a rapid series."<p>It is differentiated from the blue-headed fantail and Tablas fantail with its white belly and generally lighter coloration.<p>It is often seen with mixed species flocks.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Rhipidura albiventris
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1877)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Genus
- Rhipidura
Range and habitat
Its habitat is in tropical moist primary and secondary forest and forest edge both in the lowlands to montane areas up to 1,800 meters above sea level.<p>IUCN has assessed this bird as a least-concern species. However, it is said to be already extinct on Guimaras and possibly extinct on Masbate and Ticao Island owing to massive deforestation on those islands.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
Laniarius atrococcineus
A striking black-and-crimson bushshrike with a white stripe on its wing; a rare morph with yellow underparts also occurs. Singles and pairs forage alone or sometimes in mixed-species flocks in dry thornveld and dense tangles, where they prefer foraging on thicker trunks but will also forage on the open ground. Calls are variable, but mostly comprise loud ringing whistles answered by electric buzzing and grating notes.
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus ornatus
Uncommon, spectacular, crested eagle of tropical forest in the lowlands and foothills. Most frequently seen soaring in mid-late morning, but when hunting perches at all levels in the forest interior. Gives far-carrying, hiccupping whistles while flying, indicating its presence. Adult has orangish plumage on the side of its head and boldly barred underparts. The immature, although rarely seen, has a white head and white underparts with barring on the belly. The long and spiky crest is held flat in flight, but can be raised vertically on perched birds.
Dark-crowned Heleia
Heleia dohertyi
A distinctive small songbird with olive upperparts, a bright yellow underside, and a diagnostic head pattern: chocolate-brown head crest with indistinct white flecking, black mark between the bill and the eye, and white brow. Singles, pairs, or small groups frequently join mixed-species flocks in forests, edges, and cultivated areas in lowlands and lower hills. Restricted to the Lesser Sundas. Vocalizations include soft chattering calls, thin “tsip” notes, harsh “kit-up” calls, and a complex warbled song comprising whistled and whipping notes.
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