Iringa Akalat
Sheppardia lowei
A rather small, demure understory denizen resembling a cross between a robin and a flycatcher. Mostly dull brown with a buffy throat and a short eyebrow. Juvenile is more mottled. A highly local bird found singly and in pairs in dry and wet primary and secondary montane forest in a narrow range along the Udzungwa and Livingstone mountains escarpment between 1350 and 2500 meters of elevation. Sits for long periods, sallying to catch insect prey, or forages on the ground, often in the company of ants and other ant-following birds. Sings a variable medley of quavering high-pitched notes, “tseet-teet-tsereet-teeet-tsureet,” that is sweet without being tuneful. Calls include an invariable piping “wheet” uttered once a second. Alarm call is a grating “drrrzzt, drrrt, drrrt.” May be mistaken for a flycatcher, but its furtive nature and preference for thick understory are unique within its range.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Sheppardia lowei
- Authority
- (Grant, CHB & Mackworth-Praed, 1941)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Sheppardia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-billed Brushturkey
Talegalla cuvieri
A large, black ground bird of lowland and foothill forests. Red-orange bill, yellowish head, yellow eye and orange legs. Co-occurs with Wattled Brushturkey on Misool Island but Red-billed occurs at lower elevations and has orange legs. Similar to Yellow-legged Brushturkey but Red-billed is usually higher and lacks the bright yellow legs. Much more often heard than seen. The voice is loud, raucous, 3-note “wok-wak! wak!” with the first note lower and a gap between the second and third notes.
Sao Tome Oriole
Oriolus crassirostris
Old World oriole that is unusual in nearly lacking yellow in its plumage. There is a dark hood which is solid in males and streaky in females. A small white mark on the wing and pale yellow marks in the outer tail can be conspicuous in flight. Found in the canopy of rainforest at low and middle elevations. Song is a series of slurred, low-pitched liquid whistles. Calls include a harsh, upslurred nasal scold. Easily identified, as it is the only oriole on the island of Sao Tome.
Pied Heron
Egretta picata
A small and dainty dark gray-and-white heron. Adult has a dark cap with dark plumes creating a distinctive appearance (think "Zorro"). Usually has yellowish legs. Immature lacks the dark crown. Occurs in very large and dense flocks in tropical wetlands.
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