Pale-legged Leaf Warbler
Phylloscopus tenellipes
Small songbird, dull brownish-olive above, pale below, with prominent white supercilium, black eyeline, and faint, narrow wingbars. Vertical tail pumping distinguishes this species from most others in its range except Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. Favors the lower stories of vegetation more than most other leaf warblers, often descending down to the ground while foraging. A high-pitched cricket-like trill of a song distinguishes this species from the nearly identical Sakhalin on migration (no overlap in breeding range). Calls of the two species are similar, and can only be differentiated reliably using a spectrogram; Pale-legged’s call is marginally higher in frequency. Breeds in sparsely wooded areas, particularly in valleys and hills; can be seen in a wide range of wooded habitats outside of breeding period.
Identification
It is 12 cm in length with brownish upperparts and a contrasting greyish-brown crown and nape. The whitish supercilium contrasts strongly, not reaching the forehead but extending well behind the eyes. Its eyeline is dark brown and wider behind the eye. Cheeks mottled pale brown and throat whitish. White undertail coverts contrast with paler olive-brown rump and uppertail coverts, lacks greenish tinge. Breast and belly whitish, washed pale brown.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phylloscopus tenellipes
- Authority
- Swinhoe, 1860
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Phylloscopidae
- Genus
- Phylloscopus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : e Russia to ne China and North Korea
- Non-breeding range
- se Asia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-collared Apalis
Oreolais pulcher
A slim, pretty, long-tailed member of the cisticola family with gray upperparts and mostly white underparts, a black chest band, and rufous flanks. Found in the understory and along the edges of montane forest. Usually in pairs or small groups, readily joining mixed flocks. Not known to overlap in range with Rwenzori Apalis, and differs by having a white rather than buffy throat, and white in the outer tail. Has a black chest band like Black-capped Apalis, but separated by many details, including the gray back and rufous flanks. Vocalizations include a ringing “svink” and a lower “veet” which are often given in duet by a pair.
White-spotted Wattle-eye
Dyaphorophyia tonsa
A pied wattle-eye of lowland forests. Males are white below with an iridescent black belt. Overall iridescent black above except for the white spot over the eye, the white sides of the neck, and the white rump. Males also have purplish eye wattles that are larger above the eye than below the eye. Females are decidedly different, with reddish-brown throats, wings and backs, gray faces, limited white above the eye, a black crown, and a purplish eye-ring. Both sexes are similar to Chestnut Wattle-eye, but note White-spotted Wattle-eye’s white spots above the eye and the more extensive white on the neck of the males. Call is a hollow “pwoo,” sometimes doubled, given repeatedly about every half second. Also gives shorter “rick rick rick” calls like other wattle-eyes.
Sumba Hornbill
Rhyticeros everetti
A small black hornbill with an ivory-colored bill that has a reddish smudge at the base and a knob on top. There is a pale blue pouch of skin below the bill. Males have a rich chestnut neck that becomes a darker burnt red around the face and top of the head. Females have black necks and heads. Juveniles resemble male, with a smaller bill. Confined to Sumba, where it is the only hornbill. Inhabits lowland and foothill forest and forest edge, where it frequents the treetops singly or in groups. Calls include a fast-paced, emphatic “kokokokokokok…”.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.