Gray-headed Sunbird

Deleornis axillaris

An odd warbler-like sunbird with a long, only slightly downcurved bill. Mostly olive-green with a gray head and a pale throat. Males have a small red tuft at their shoulder that is usually hidden. Found in rainforest at low and middle elevations, mostly in thick growth at middle levels. Similar to longbills, but more olive-green than Gray Longbill and less yellow below than Yellow Longbill. Vocalizations include a rising and falling twittering as well as dry “tip” notes. 

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Deleornis axillaris
Authority
(Reichenow, 1893)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Macrosphenidae
Genus
Deleornis

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Black Tinamou

Black Tinamou

Tinamus osgoodi

Large, rare tinamou found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes. It is uniformly sooty gray, much darker and plainer than Gray Tinamou. Rusty lower underparts are hard to see in the field. Like other forest tinamous, it is far more likely to be heard than seen. Vocalizations include a low, drawn out coo, like a dove’s but longer, and a series of low, modulated whistles.

Ijima's Leaf Warbler

Ijima's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus ijimae

An uncommon migrant songbird through Taiwan, rarely encountered anywhere away from breeding grounds on Izu and Tokara Islands, Japan. Olive above and whitish below; best distinguished from similar species by narrow bill with yellowish lower mandible, brownish-pink legs, and weak head pattern. Prefers mature coastal broadleaf forests but uses bamboo patches and conifers during migration as well. Smaller than Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler, with thinner bill and no crown stripe. Song consists of a series of trills; calls, given often, include a descending “twee” or quiet “pee.”

Ouvea Parakeet

Ouvea Parakeet

Eunymphicus uvaeensis

Spectacular, relatively large mostly green parakeet with a black face, slight bit of red on the forehead, and thin but prominent “horns” consisting of a crest made up of a pair of black feathers. Typically found in remnant patches of high-quality forest, but visits more disturbed habitat nearby, especially where fruiting trees are present. Found only on Ouvea Island off New Caledonia. Note distinctive voice: relatively low-pitched, nasal trumpeting notes, notably lower-pitched than the voice of Coconut Lorikeet.

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