Black-eared Ground-Thrush
Geokichla camaronensis
A rather small, secretive, variable ground-thrush with mostly orange-rufous underparts, a rusty-brown back, double white wingbars, and a distinctive pair of vertical stripes on the face. Western races are more richly colored than eastern ones. Rare, found in pairs in scattered locations in lowland and hill forest throughout the Congo Basin. Song is undescribed; alarm is a typical high-pitched thrush “ssreee.” All other ground-thrushes have a single vertical face stripe except the larger Gray Ground-Thrush, which is paler and more washed out on the face and breast than Black-eared.
Identification
The black-eared ground thrush (Geokichla camaronensis) is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The subspecies G. c. kibalensis of the Kibale Forest in western Uganda is sometimes regarded as a separate species, the Kibale ground-thrush.
Taxonomy
Genus: Geokichla; Family: Turdidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Geokichla camaronensis
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1905
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Geokichla
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Greater Melampitta
Megalampitta gigantea
A large, rare, ground bird from scattered areas of foothill and lower montane limestone forest. All black plumage with long legs, strong bill, long tail and some bare facial behind the eye. Juvenile has a brown belly. Very secretive and keeps to dense cover. The only large, black, terrestrial bird. More often heard than seen. Voice, a loud, repetitive “choo-oowit!”.
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
Medium-sized owl with deep black eyes; strictly nocturnal and infrequently seen. Brown to gray overall with a big rounded head. Favors woodland, forest, parkland, urban areas and churchyards with large trees; tends to roost well hidden in foliage during the day, when may be detected by tracking down the excited sounds of small birds mobbing the owl. Comes out at night to hunt in clearings and more open areas. Most often detected by its quavering hoots and "kee-wik!" shrieks, given at night.
Common Babbler
Argya caudata
Faintly streaked warm buffy-brown babbler. Dark eyes and and pale throat separate this species from the similar Striated Babbler. A common and familiar city and town bird throughout much of its range; A bird of scrubby plains, open forests, forest edges, and overgrown cultivation. Whickers, trills, squeaks, and chirps loudly as flocks hop about on the ground and in low undergrowth.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.