Hook-billed Bulbul
Setornis criniger
A highly localized species, found almost exclusively in the kerangas and peatswamp forests of Borneo and Sumatra’s lowlands (rarely in adjacent wooded habitats). Fairly plain overall; note brown upperparts, off-white chest, pale yellow belly, and elegant white eyebrow. Long and heavy hook-tipped silver bill is diagnostic if seen well. Forages singly, in pairs, and in small bands, typically in the middle and lower levels of forest. Gives a variety of harsh scolding calls, including a nasal “jyaw, jyaw” and a quicker, drier rattle.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Setornis criniger
- Authority
- Lesson, RP, 1839
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Setornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Handsome long-tailed bird. Breeding male has a black throat, mostly yellow underparts. Breeding female often has some dark on the throat, paler yellow underparts. All plumages have gray head and back, with whitish eyebrow, bright yellow belly and vent. Often near flowing water with nearby rocks or surrogate rocky habitat, from mountain streams to weirs in suburban parklands. Walks quietly along shorelines or in nearby open areas, pumping its very long, white-sided tail up and down. Song is a repetitive series of high-pitched notes; calls include short, high “pseet” and buzzier flight calls.
Chestnut-capped Blackbird
Chrysomus ruficapillus
Medium-sized blackbird found in marshes, wet grasslands, and occasionally agricultural areas. Males are mostly black with a chestnut forehead, crown and throat. Females are dark brown above with faint streaks and olive-brown below with a buff throat. Highly gregarious, may gather in huge groups of up to 1000 individuals.
Yellow-bellied Whistler
Pachycephala philippinensis
A fairly small bird of lowland and foothill forest. Brown above and yellow below with a white throat. Races differ, with southern birds having more yellowish upperparts. Somewhat similar to Mindanao White-eye, but has a slightly thicker bill, lacks the olive-green back, and is usually found at lower elevations. Calls include a fairly high-pitched downslurred whistle. Song consists of a short phrase of slurred whistles.
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