Ochraceous Attila

Attila torridus

Bright, tawny flycatcher with a hooked bill. Nearly endemic to western Ecuador, just barely reaching Peru and Colombia. Upperparts and breast are orange-brown, belly is yellow, and wings are dark with brown wingbars. Inhabits rainforest as well as lighter, more disturbed woodland. Usually found perched at mid-levels in the trees, and often pumps its tail. Typical song is a series of about five loud, rising whistles followed by “purr-whip!”

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Attila torridus
Authority
Sclater, PL, 1860
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Tyrannidae
Genus
Attila

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Philippine Honey-buzzard

Philippine Honey-buzzard

Pernis steerei

A fairly large raptor of lowland and montane forest. Brown above with a heavily streaked chest, a barred belly, a fairly long flattened crest coming from the back of the head, and piercing golden eyes. In flight, note barred, bulging wings and fairly long barred tail with a broad terminal band. Juveniles are much paler. Remarkably similar to Philippine Hawk-Eagle, but in flight Philippine Honey-buzzard has a narrow head which projects more from the wings. Voice consists of a drawn-out, two-noted “weeeeeeee lew” repeated at intervals.

Northern Puffback

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

Mid-sized bushshrike in which males and females are very different. Males are mostly black and white, with gray on the rump and shoulder. Females are brown on the back and buffy below. Found in a variety of savanna habitats, plus woodland, mangroves, and along forest edge. Generally common and conspicuous bird that often joins mixed-species flocks. The most common vocalization is a rising “kyeeewu,” but also gives scolding and ratcheting calls. Males separated from Black-backed Puffback by the gray rump and shoulder. Females separated from Pringle’s Puffback by their larger size and all-dark bill.

White-vented Shama

White-vented Shama

Copsychus niger

A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of lowland forest and scrub on Palawan and neighboring islands. Almost entirely black with a glossy purplish sheen, white outer tail feathers, and white on the lower belly and under the base of the tail. There are no other species of similar shape and size on Palawan. Heard more often than seen. Song is a pleasant, medium-pitched warbled melody.

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