Rock-loving Cisticola
Cisticola aberrans
Large, plain, long-tailed cisticola. Note the pale eye stripe, which is lacking in most similarly plain cisticolas. Varies geographically: the crown can be rufous or brown, and the underparts buffy or gray. Found on rocky slopes in grassland and savanna. Often cocks up the tail like a wren or prinia. Calls include squeaks, bleats, and dry rattles. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cisticola aberrans
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Cisticola
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Band-rumped Swift
Chaetura spinicaudus
Small dark swift. Look for the contrasting whitish band across the rump. Plenty of geographic variation across its disjunct range, with some populations showing a less contrasting rump band. Very similar to Gray-rumped Swift, which can sometimes be separated by the lack of a whitish band across the rump, but often best left unidentified as not all Band-rumps clearly show the whitish band. Usually seen in flocks, sometimes quite large, feeding over forests, clearings, open fields, and lakes.
White-winged Cinclodes
Cinclodes atacamensis
Uncommon to fairly common in the high Andes, where usually outnumbered by similar but smaller Cream-winged Cinclodes. Favors streams and bogs with running water and also lakeshores. Generally less confiding than Cream-winged Cinclodes. Told from Cream-winged by brighter, rustier back and more contrasting white markings with broader wing stripe and big white tail corners as opposed to smaller buff tail corners on Cream-winged. Voice also quite different.
White-necked Petrel
Pterodroma cervicalis
A large petrel with long wings and a long, thick bill. The dark “M” pattern on the wings contrasts with the gray back. The underwings are mostly white. Similar to Juan Fernandez Petrel, but the black cap is separated from the gray back by a broad white collar. Migrates through Hawaiian waters. mostly from the late summer through spring. Rare in Hawaii, but observed more often in the western end of the Archipelago.
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