Swahili Sparrow
Passer suahelicus
A drab sparrow of East Africa, gray with brown wings and a bright rufous rump and shoulder. Generally common within its range in savanna, in cultivated areas, and around human habitation. Very similar to Northern Gray-headed Sparrow, but separated by darker underparts, less contrasting pale throat, and grayer back. Also very similar to Parrot-billed Sparrow, but slightly smaller and slimmer-billed with paler underparts. The call is a husky “churp” and the song a series of similar notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Passer suahelicus
- Authority
- Reichenow, 1904
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passeridae
- Genus
- Passer
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Taliabu Masked-Owl
Tyto nigrobrunnea
A distinctive barn-owl species confined to Taliabu in the Moluccas. Shows a characteristic heart-shaped pale face bordered with a broad black line. Underparts are dingy buff with scattered spotting. Upperparts, top of head, and nape are largely uniform dark brown with indistinct pale spots. Thinly distributed in a variety of habitats including forest, forest edge, bamboo thickets, and open areas across a broad elevational range. Unmistakable: the only barn-owl species on Taliabu. Call is a coarse, shrill high-pitched shriek: “sheeeer.”
Spot-throated Woodcreeper
Certhiasomus stictolaemus
A small and difficult to identify woodcreeper, widespread but often rare and seldom encountered. Smaller than most other woodcreeper species in range (slightly larger than Olivaceous Woodcreeper), with a relatively short, straight bill and weakly marked brown plumage. Note the faint pale streaking on the head and spots on the throat. Best found and identified by voice, a fast, even trill lasting between 1-2 seconds and usually heard at dawn.
Equatorial Antpitta
Grallaria saturata
Plump, short-tailed, and long-legged bird found in Andean cloud forest in Ecuador, northern Peru, and the central Andes of Colombia; also known from one site in Colombia’s eastern Andes. Plumage is chestnut-brown with a slightly paler belly. Smaller and plainer than other highland antpittas in its range. Stays low inside high elevation cloud forest and heard far more often than seen. Songs include a short, whistled “wit, wi-di-dit” and a descending trill. Formerly called Rufous Antpitta.
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