Black Antbird

Cercomacroides serva

Long-tailed antbird of lowland rainforest. Most common around tree fall gaps in mature rainforest, and other areas of dense undergrowth. Males are almost entirely black, except for narrow white margins to wing coverts; similar to males of Riparian and Blackish antbirds, but truly black (not gray). Females are gray with dull orange underparts and face; resemble the similar females of Riparian and Gray antbirds, but have a stronger contrast between the gray crown and orange face, and are found more commonly away from water (Riparian Antbird has a close association with water). Most commonly heard vocalization is a distinctive rising series of plucking “bleep” notes.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Cercomacroides serva
Authority
(Sclater, PL, 1858)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thamnophilidae
Genus
Cercomacroides

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Taeniopygia guttata

Small finch with bright orange bill and a distinctive black-and-white “moustache” mark. Adult male gray above, with barred grayish bib, rusty white-spotted flanks, and black-and-white tail pattern. Female smooth gray to buff on the chest and belly; juvenile similar but with a dark gray bill. Inhabits arid inland Australia, where often found in very large flocks.

Madagascar Cuckooshrike

Madagascar Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris cinereus

Medium-sized, gray vanga-like bird with a black hood. The underparts are dark gray in most of the range and pale gray in the southwest. Found in all types of forest, and sometimes in scrub and plantations. Often joins mixed flocks with other mid-sized birds. Most common vocalizations are an accelerating high-pitched series and a mild, chatty series of “chew” and “tew” notes. Shows gray underparts, unlike any similar vanga. Smaller-billed than Pollen’s, Van Dam’s, and Lafresnaye’s Vangas. 

Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill

Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill

Bucorvus abyssinicus

A huge ground-dwelling hornbill. Males have a mix of blue and red bare facial skin, while females have entirely blue facial skin. In flight, a large white patch is revealed in the wings. Found in savanna, grassland, and agricultural habitats, usually in pairs or small groups, walking on the ground. Breeds and roosts in trees. Similar to Southern Ground-Hornbill, but there is little overlap in range, and Abyssinian is easily separated by the blue facial skin. The call is a series of deep “boop” notes. 

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