Northern Brownbul

Phyllastrephus strepitans

A drab, long-tailed brownish bird related to greenbuls. The tail is rufous and the throat paler buff. Found in scrub, thickets, and areas of dense woodland, almost always in small and vocal groups. The loud calls are rollicking series of babbling calls, somewhat similar to both woodhoopoe and babbler vocalizations. Very similar to Terrestrial Brownbul, but throat patch is much duller instead of bright white, and tail is more rufous. Also similar to Fischer’s Greenbul, but has dark rather than pale eyes. Separated from other greenbuls by the lack of olive-green in the plumage. 

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Phyllastrephus strepitans
Authority
(Reichenow, 1879)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Pycnonotidae
Genus
Phyllastrephus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus goiavier

The most common urban bulbul in Southeast Asia, this attractive songster is a common sight in cities, parks, and plantations, as well as in open forests, edges, and secondary growth. Brown above and whitish below with a bright yellow vent and a thick black line between the bill and the eye. Front edge of the weak, slightly peaked crest is also dark. Gives rolling, variable song and bubbly multiple-note calls.

Buff-breasted Babbler

Buff-breasted Babbler

Pellorneum tickelli

Rather graceful-looking brown babbler with a long tail and long legs. Averages paler below than above, but generally unmarked. Inhabits foothill forests with dense undergrowth, where it forages close to or on the ground. Almost completely unmarked appearance distinguishes it from most other babblers in range. Listen for its loud, strident song, a repetitive “wit-wee, wit-wee, wit-wee.” Calls include rattling trills, a harsh descending laugh, and sharp single notes.

Antipodean Albatross

Antipodean Albatross

Diomedea antipodensis

Huge albatross of the Southern Ocean. Two subspecies: “Gibson’s” breeds primarily on Auckland Island and ranges at sea around New Zealand and eastern Australia; “Antipodean” breeds mostly on Antipodes and Campbell Islands and ranges mainly across Pacific to Humboldt Current off Chile. Plumage highly variable, starting chocolate-brown with a white face and gradually becoming whiter over many years. Younger birds separated from Southern Royal Albatross by darker tail, brown markings on head and back, and lack of black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Older birds more difficult to separate; focus on more coarsely marked upperwings, often with conspicuous white patch in center of wing, and lack of black “lips”. Often shows orange stain on cheek, never shown by Southern Royal. Identification from other Wandering-type Albatross is extremely difficult and often presumed by range. Older “Antipodean” often retain complete dark cap, tail, and upperwings.

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.