Black Cicadabird

Edolisoma melas

A medium-sized bird of foothill and lowland forest canopy. Male is all black, and female has brown upperparts, orange-brown underparts and a paler brow. Several starlings are black but have a different shape and behaviour. Black Pitohui is usually at higher elevations and has a thicker, hooked bill. Female similar to female Gray-headed Cicadabird but lacks black in the wing and tail. Also similar to Rusty, some races of Northern Variable Pitohui and Piping Bellbird, but has a pale brow. Voice, a long downward whistle and a rapid, repeated “wek-wek-wek…”.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Edolisoma melas
Authority
(Lesson, RP, 1828)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Campephagidae
Genus
Edolisoma

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Copperback Quail-thrush

Copperback Quail-thrush

Cinclosoma clarum

Heavily patterned terrestrial bird of Western Australia and western South Australia. White eyebrow and moustache, with deep chestnut brown back and intricately patterned wing. Female has white belly and gray chest, male white belly, gray flanks, and black chest and throat. Note gray sides rather than warm brown sides of Cinnamon and Nullarbor quail-thrushes. Usually seen walking around in areas of open woodland and shrubland. Call is a long, high-pitched whistled "seeeep."

Malayan Crested Fireback

Malayan Crested Fireback

Lophura rufa

Flamboyant dark pheasant of tropical lowland rainforest, typically in wetter areas. Male is glossy blue-black with a tufted crest, electric blue facial skin, blood-red back and white tail. Female is warm chocolate brown with pale-edged feathers on the underparts. Forages singly or in small groups on the forest floor. Shy but has become habituated in some places. Larger than Malayan Crestless Fireback and Salvadori’s Pheasant with blue rather than red facial skin and red rather than gray legs. Gives guttural “chuckit!” or soft ”weep” calls. Males also give a wing-whirring display.

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

A large dark sunbird with a long decurved bill. The male is spectacular, glossy velvet-black with a striking scarlet daub on the chest and an iridescent green crown and throat. The female is dark gray-brown and heavily streaked underneath. Singles and pairs occupy a broad variety of dry and moist savanna, parkland, and gardens, eating nectar and insects. The species gives a loud series of “tjip” and “teeeuw” notes. Hunter’s Sunbird differs from the similar Scarlet-chested Sunbird by having a violet rump and shoulder patches and having a black central throat (not iridescent green).

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