Tepui Antpitta

Myrmothera simplex

Rotund, terrestrial bird of tepui highland forests. Rich brown above and pale gray-brown below, with a white spot behind the eye, long legs, and virtually no tail. Found at middle and high elevations; most common above 800 m. Always observed on or close to ground. Forages in leaf litter and among mossy rocks for insects. Does not usually follow mixed-species flocks. Far more often heard than seen, but seems much less shy than many other antpittas; may run along ground to within a few meters of observers in response to playback or imitation of song. Song is 6–12 hollow whistles, the series rising slightly in pitch, similar to song of Thrush-like Antpitta but higher-pitched and often longer in duration. Alarm call is a melodious, hollow chuckle, virtually identical to same call of Thrush-like Antpitta; the two species do not overlap in elevational range.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Myrmothera simplex
Authority
(Salvin & Godman, 1884)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Grallariidae
Genus
Myrmothera

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

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Somali Short-toed Lark

Alaudala somalica

A relatively small and plain lark. Coloration varies regionally, ranging from dark brown to paler brown to rufous, but always look for a pale eyebrow and eye-ring, streaking on the breast, and a completely or partially pale bill. Found in dry grassland and semi-desert habitats, usually in flocks. Similar to Singing Bushlark, but has a slightly buffy rather than pure white outer tail, and lacks rufous patches in the wings. The flight song is a long and complicated jumble that can include imitations of other species. The call is a quick “chidup,” often given in flight. 

White-browed Bulbul

White-browed Bulbul

Pycnonotus luteolus

A plain brownish bulbul that is endemic to the bottom half of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Ubiquitous inhabitant of scrubby habitat across its range and sometimes overlaps with Yellow-throated Bulbul in rocky scrub. Although both species have a yellow vent and can sound similar, White-browed can be distinguished by its brown face and white eyebrow. Usually occurs in pairs and tends to skulk in undergrowth. Rather noisy but uncommonly seen, listen for regular, short bursts of distinctive raucous babbling.

Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Eudyptes chrysocome

The smallest of the crested penguins. Note the thin yellow eyebrows that, once past the eyes, flare out toward the rear of the head. The species consists of two subspecies, the Eastern and Western Rockhopper Penguins. The Western Rockhopper Penguin breeds on offshore islands off southern Chile and Argentina and on the Falkland Islands, while the Eastern Rockhopper Penguin breeds on various subantarctic islands around New Zealand and the southern Indian Ocean. The Eastern has even eyebrows with pink skin at the base of the bill; the Western has black skin at the base of the bill, with an uneven eyebrow shape. Vagrants occasionally reach the Snares Islands. Distinguished from Snares Penguin by thinner eyebrow and smaller bill, and from Moseley’s Rockhopper Penguin by shorter, less flowing crest.

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