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…”.
Identification
The Timor friarbird or plain friarbird (Philemon inornatus) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is found on Timor island.
Taxonomy
Genus: Philemon; Family: Meliphagidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- 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
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Common Wood-Pigeon
Columba palumbus
Distinctive, large bulky gray pigeon with a pale neck patch (lacking on juvenile in late summer–autumn). Neck patch is large and white throughout majority of range, but birds in Azores, Madeira, and much of western Asia have smaller, tan-colored patches. Bold white wing band striking in flight; tail broadly tipped black. Inhabits wooded and semiopen habitats, including towns and gardens. Forms flocks, especially in winter. Often rather unaware, and frequently crashes noisily and clumsily out of hedges and bushes. Display flight consists of a flap-flap-flap climb followed by a descending glide. Gives a low, throaty series of coos: “hrrruu-hoo-who-who.”
Simeulue Parrot
Psittinus abbotti
Large-headed and short-tailed parrot with a comically bulbous bill, endemic to Simeulue and Siumat. Male is green with a bright orange bill and a powder-blue head and rump. Female is brown-headed with a dark bill. Usually moves in mid-sized flocks through forests and forest edge. Does not sound as cacophonous and unpleasant as many parrots; gives rather musical whistled notes.
Buru Flowerpecker
Dicaeum erythrothorax
A tiny, stub-tailed gray songbird. Has an entirely gray upperside, a bright white throat, and whitish underparts with extensively gray-washed flanks and a white tuft of feathers on the shoulder. Male shows a diagnostic red breast patch. Juvenile resembles a drab female with a pale-based bill. Pairs and singles inhabit canopy of forest and edge in lowland and foothills. Confined to Buru, where it is unmistakable, being the only flowerpecker. Call is a very high-pitched “sit-sit-sit…”. Song is a series of six “see-see-see-see-see-see” notes.
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