Puvel's Illadopsis
Illadopsis puveli
A mid-sized, chunky, drably colored babbler. Has a white throat and pale gray underparts that are usually washed with buff. Found in the understory of gallery forest and thick bush, usually in pairs. Shy and skulking, and rarely seen unless searched for. Similar to other illadopsises, and best located and distinguished by voice. Visually most similar to Rufous-winged Illadopsis, but found in different habitat, slightly larger, and usually buffy on the underparts. Paler below than Brown or Pale-breasted Illadopsises. Most often detected by distinctive voice: a series of several whistles in an up then down pattern that is weirdly reminiscent of trying to start a car, similar to the song of Rufous-winged Illadopsis, but higher-pitched and slightly more rambling and variable, with more notes in each phrase
Identification
Puvel's illadopsis (Illadopsis puveli) is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. Its horizontal interrupted range of presence extends across the African tropical rainforest (mainly West Africa, on either side of the Dahomey Gap). Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.
Taxonomy
Genus: Illadopsis; Family: Pellorneidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Illadopsis puveli
- Authority
- (Salvadori, 1901)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Illadopsis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Sulawesi Heleia
Heleia squamiceps
A small, slim-billed songbird with a green upperside, yellow-washed underparts with green sides, and extensive white streaks on the head. South Sulawesi form shows a scaled throat; all other forms have an unmarked pale throat. Juveniles show a green-toned crown and a paler underside. Pairs or small groups inhabit montane forest and edges, frequenting mixed-species flocks. Confined to Sulawesi. Unmistakable: the only warbler-like songbird with abundant white head streaking. Short, rich warbled song includes repeated phrases like “twit-tiwit…” interspersed with “chu-chu-chu” notes. Call is a soft “chu-chu-chu.”
Andean Goose
Oressochen melanopterus
This chunky white-and-black goose is often common and conspicuous on Andean bogs and lakeshores; usually in pairs or small groups and can be confiding in areas where not hunted. Note the small pink bill and pink legs; sexes alike but the male is larger. Local overlap in Andes of central Chile with Upland Goose. Male Upland Geese have a black bill and legs, and dark barring on body. Like the other species in this genus, males give high wheezy whistles whereas females grunt and bray.
Northern Fiscal
Lanius humeralis
Long-tailed black-and-white shrike. There is a V-shaped white mark on the shoulders, a small white nick on the bottom of the wing, and white in the outer tail. Juveniles are brownish and heavily barred. Found in a wide variety of open habitats, including moist scrub and savanna, farmland, and grassland. Often solitary. Perches out conspicuously on fence poles, dead trees, and electric wires. The song is a highly variable mix of clear whistles and rougher notes. Also gives low, rough calls. Separated from similar shrikes by its black rather than gray back.
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