Timor Friarbird
Philemon inornatus
A large brown honeyeater with a long, powerful bill, a lighter whitish underside showing fine streaks, and a squiggly white stripe below the eye. Juveniles show yellowish-green wing panel and yellow wash to throat and breast. Singles to small groups found in lowlands and foothills, within forest, edge, sparsely wooded areas, cultivation, and mangroves. Told from Helmeted Friarbird by smaller size, slimmer bill with no casque, and white line on face, lacking a large patch of facial skin. Noisy, giving a strident, kingfisher-like “kichup-chow.” Also gives an undulating “kichup-weee-chow-chow…”.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Philemon inornatus
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1846)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Philemon
Range and habitat
It is found on Timor island, where it plays an important cultural role.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests; it tends to be most present near roads, particularly flat low-traffic roads near rivers and mangroves. It is a species generalist.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Distinctive but variable: all plumages are some bold combination of black, white, and gray. Shows considerable variation in plumage across the world, but never has a clear, thin and contrasting eye-brow like White-browed or Japanese Wagtail. Occurs in varied open habitats, from wild grassy areas and wetlands to paved car parks and grassy lawns. Usually seen as singles, pairs, or small groups walking and running around, pumping the long, white-sided tail up and down. Identified easily in flight by its loud, thick and distinctive “tsee-tsee’ call.
Pink-headed Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula rosacea
Large elegant pigeon with dark olive-green wings and back. “Pink” on the upperparts is at most a faint blush and is often not noticeable. Similar Green Imperial-Pigeon is brighter green on the upperparts and lacks Pink-headed’s weakly contrasting pale gray “collar”. Typically an offshore species of forests on small islets, though can sometimes be found along the coastlines of larger islands. Listen for its song, a melancholy descending series of booming coos: “OO-OO-OOh-ooh-oo”.
Emperor Goose
Anser canagicus
Stocky goose that inhabits rocky coastlines, lagoons, and tidal flats. Striking white head, black throat, and petite pink bill. Blue-gray body with intricate black-and white bars, a white tail, and bright orange legs. Face sometimes stained orangish-brown. Juvenile has a gray head, but still shows white tail. Breeds on marshy tundra and winters in small flocks on coastal waters. Rarely seen outside Alaska.
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