Hume's Bush Warbler
Horornis brunnescens
This dull, shy skulker can be difficult to see; instead, listen for its remarkable song, an ascending series of 3-4 long thin monotone whistles (“doooooo-rayyyyy-meeeee”) followed by a slow series of repeated 2- or 3-note musical phrases. If seen well, note the species’ white brow stripe, buff-washed pale underparts, and warm brown upperparts. Favors patches of bamboo in otherwise dense forest, but can be found in other types of dense vegetation. Breeds at 2000-3600 meters of elevation; may descend in the winter.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Horornis brunnescens
- Authority
- (Hume, 1872)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cettiidae
- Genus
- Horornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Taiwan Yellow Tit
Machlolophus holsti
Unmistakable songbird, black above and yellow below with white trim to the back of the triangular crest. Inhabits mountainous forests (up to 2800 m). Active, like other tits, usually foraging in middle to upper levels of trees. Song a series of whistled phrases; calls include a nasal “dyer” and repeated “chicka.”
Marañon Spinetail
Synallaxis maranonica
Very shy spinetail restricted to the Marañon Valley of northwestern Peru and extreme southern Ecuador; highly threatened due to ongoing habitat loss. Plumage is mostly gray with chestnut back, wings, and tail. Inhabits dense tangles inside forest, often in damp gullies or near rivers and streams. Hard to see well, and usually first detected by voice. Typical song is a whining “chew, pit-year” repeated every few seconds.
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.
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