Ochre-collared Monarch
Arses insularis
A slender, medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest. Fairly long tail and black face with gray bill and blue eye wattle. Male has white belly, orange chest and collar, black tail, back and wings with a white wing patch. Female has chestnut breast, throat and collar with brown tail, back and wings. Limited overlap with the similar Frilled Monarch, but male Ochre-collared has an orange collar, and the female a brown back. Song, a fast series of repeated “wip!” notes or double “wee-pit!” notes.
Taxonomy
This species was originally described in the genus Monarcha. Some authorities consider the ochre-collared monarch as a subspecies of the frilled monarch.
- Scientific name
- Arses insularis
- Authority
- (Meyer, AB, 1874)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Genus
- Arses
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Western Woodhaunter
Automolus virgatus
This fairly small brown bird is a shy forest-dwelling species; it is usually seen in the lower or middle levels of the forest interior. Most similar to foliage-gleaners, which can be very similar in plumage. Look for the woodhaunter’s blurry buffy streaking on the head and breast, rather long straight bill, and lack of a pale eyebrow. Does not climb up tree trunks like a woodcreeper, but forages by hopping around tangles, mosses, and vines, rummaging around looking for invertebrates. Most often seen singly or in pairs, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks. Listen for series of hard nasal chips, and grating scold calls. Occurs from eastern Nicaragua to western Ecuador.
Trilling Tapaculo
Scytalopus parvirostris
Tiny, compact gray bird. Females are slightly duller, with brown lower sides and rump. Like most tapaculos, they are usually very shy and rarely seen in the open. Nearly identical to Tschudi’s Tapaculo, which is found at higher elevations where the two overlap; their songs are also very different. Trilling Tapaculo’s song is a long, rapid chatter.
Gabon Coucal
Centropus anselli
A large, reddish-bellied forest coucal of Central African forests, occasionally found in more open and disturbed habitats. Most often detected by its call, which is a long or short series of hollow loud hoots, the last few usually lower, sometimes given as a duet. Overlaps locally with Black-throated Coucal, which has a black throat and a cream-colored belly.
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