Yellow Penduline-Tit
Anthoscopus parvulus
A tiny, brightly colored bird with a sharp bill. The back is olive-green, the wing blackish with white fringes, and the underparts yellow. Local and uncommon in savanna, ranging from moist Guinea savanna to dry thorn savanna. Usually in pairs or small flocks. Similar to Sennar and Forest Penduline-Tits, but much brighter: yellow rather than buffy below, and with white edges on the wing feathers. Vocalizations include a series of whistles in an up-and-down pattern and a quick series of buzzy notes.
Identification
The yellow penduline tit is around 8 cm (3.1 in) in overall length and weighs 6–8 g (0.21–0.28 oz). It is olive-yellow above with bright yellow underparts and a dull greyish stripe through the eye. The upper wing is brown with feathers edged with yellow. The primaries are edged with buff-white which generates a narrow whitish wing panel. The tail is brown. The bird has a conical pointed bill and strong legs. The sexes are alike.
Taxonomy
The yellow penduline tit was formally described in 1864 by the German explorer and ornithologist Theodor von Heuglin under the binomial name Aegithalus parvulus. This species is now placed in the genus Anthoscopus that was introduced in 1851 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek anthos meaning "blossom" or "flower" with skopos meaning "searcher". The specific epithet parvulus is Latin for "very small" (a diminutive of parvus meaning "small"). The yellow penduline tit is considered by some to be monotypic as no subspecies are clearly distinguishable. The ranges of some proposed subspecies are however widely disjunct.
- Scientific name
- Anthoscopus parvulus
- Authority
- (Heuglin, 1864)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Remizidae
- Genus
- Anthoscopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Small flycatcher, extremely similar to several other species. Generally shy and inconspicuous; breeds in spruce forests often near boggy areas. Migrants tend to be found in denser wet areas within woods. Olive-greenish above with distinctive yellow wash on throat and belly. Black wings with bold white wingbars. Nearly identical to Western Flycatchers, but limited range overlap. Within range, main confusion species is Least Flycatcher. Bright yellow throat and belly is usually enough to identify Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, but some worn birds can be very similar. Song is similar to Least Flycatcher ("chebek") but more slurred, with a soft buzzy tone. Not frequently repeated like Least Flycatcher. Soft whistled call note, "pwee," unlike Least's sharp "whit" call.
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
Acanthiza uropygialis
Small bird with thin pointed bill, found in woodland and shrubland across much of arid inland temperate Australia. Brownish gray above, cream-colored below, with white eye, pale speckling on forecrown, pale-tipped dark tail, and vivid chestnut rump, often visible in flight. Forages in small flocks in understory bushes and also on the ground. Young bird has dark eye and can be confused with Slaty-backed Thornbill. Compare Inland Thornbill, which has a heavily streaked chest. Typical calls are very thin rapid chatter interspersed with slower, high- pitched "seeeep seeeep."
Spotted Thick-knee
Burhinus capensis
A tall, tawny-brown, terrestrial, plover-like bird with bold, blackish spots on the upperparts and without wing bars. It prefers a variety of drier country habitats up to 2500 m; avoids wetlands. Its huge yellow eyes hint at its mainly nocturnal habits. By day this odd species uses its cryptic plumage to conceal itself under cover. After dark, it emerges to run around feeding on insects. Spotted Thick-knee has a loud, distinctive “ti-ti-ti teeeteeeteeee-ti ti ti” call.
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