Red-throated Swallow
Petrochelidon rufigula
A small, stocky, martin-like swallow that has dark upperparts mottled around the hindneck and back, rusty throat with an indistinct partial dark collar, and a paler buffy belly. In flight, rusty rump and white blotches in the tail are distinctive. Pairs and small flocks are residents and partial migrants foraging over open grassland and rivers, often nesting on cliffs, buildings, or bridges. Calls include a high-pitched twittering, especially at colonies. During May to August overlaps with intra-African migrant South African Swallow, which is very similar to Red-throated Swallow, but is larger and bulkier, lacks white in the tail, and has dark breast mottling forming a smudgy collar.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Petrochelidon rufigula
- Authority
- (Barboza du Bocage, 1878)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Genus
- Petrochelidon
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Canyon Wren
Catherpes mexicanus
Subtly beautiful wren found in picturesque canyonlands and rocky outcroppings of the western U.S. and Mexico. Exceptional songster most often located by rich cascading song, or harsh call notes. Rich orangey-brown body with tiny black-and-white spots, bright white throat, and thin decurved bill. Most similar to Rock Wren; note more contrasting white throat. Almost always on the ground or cliffs, running up and down rocks, repeatedly disappearing from view only to suddenly pop up atop a lookout. Feeds on insects. Nests in crevice or under ledge on cliff.
Styan's Bulbul
Pycnonotus taivanus
Relatively plain songbird, olive above, whitish below, with black cap, white face, and black moustachial mark. Somewhat similar to more widespread Light-vented Bulbul, with which it hybridizes, but adult Styan’s has heavier bill, solidly black cap, white plumage surrounding the eye, and small red dot in black moustachial stripe (difficult to see). Juvenile duller above (greenish in wings), white below, lacking strong head pattern. Inhabits open forest, forest edge, parks, and gardens. Often perches on telephone poles or fences, from which it gives a melodic song similar to that of Light-vented but higher in pitch and more musical.
Taczanowski's Ground-Tyrant
Muscisaxicola griseus
Ashy gray flycatcher with a strong white eyebrow that perches upright on the ground. Found in high-elevation grasslands and pastures. Larger size and more upright posture give it a taller appearance than the similar Cinereous Ground-Tyrant; the long white eyebrow that extends to or past the eye is also a good distinguishing feature (it is much shorter or absent in Cinereous). Does not have a crown patch as many other ground-tyrants do.
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