Common Sunbird-Asity
Neodrepanis coruscans
Tiny, round, short-tailed bird with a long curved bill. Breeding males are blue on the back and yellow below, with bright bare skin around the eye. Non-breeding males and females are dull olive-green. Madagascar endemic that is found in the canopy of eastern and northern rainforest. Hyperactive nectar feeder that constantly flits from flower to flower. Call is an accelerating series of quiet and very high-pitched notes. Similar to the scarce Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, but has duller olive underparts and a larger, more curved bill. Smaller than Souimanga Sunbird, with a thinner bill and shorter tail.
Identification
The genus Neodrepanis is characterised by a tiny body with a short tail, a fine, strongly decurved bill and, during the breeding season, strong sexual dichromatism. Males in breeding plumage are brilliant blue and black above and variably bright yellow below, with extraordinary blue and green facial caruncles. Females, males in non-breeding plumage and immatures are dull blue-green above, lack caruncles and are variably yellowish below; some female-plumaged birds (at least for Common Sunbird Asity) have a half-sized caruncle and may be immature males. In winter, males are often seen with traces of breeding plumage coloration.<p>Male common sunbird-asities are duller than yellow-bellied in almost all respects. The former have brilliant royal blue-fringed back crown, nape, mantle and scapular feathers, and narrow but fairly conspicuous yellow fringes to the secondaries and greater and median wing coverts. Their underparts are dull, deep yellow, with strong olive-brown streaking in the centre of the breast; the flanks, belly and undertail coverts are unstreaked and somewhat brighter. The caruncle is almost square and turquoise-blue, rather greener around the eye. It extends only a short distance in front of the eye, and is not connected to the area of blue (basally) and green (distally) bare skin that overlies the basal quarter of the bill.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Neodrepanis coruscans
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1875
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Philepittidae
- Genus
- Neodrepanis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Phalacrocorax neglectus
A medium-to-large-sized, stocky, marine cormorant that is a specialist in kelp forests of the Benguela Current, where it is scarce resident. Similar to Cape Cormorant but slightly larger and thicker-necked. Adults have a black (not orange) throat patch and honey-brown (not blue) eyes, giving them a plain-looking face. If seen well, the head is flattish with an indistinct crest that more often manifests as a bulbous forehead. In flight, it is difficult to tell from the abundant Cape Cormorant unless the characteristic white back--most prevalent in the breeding season (but absent in some individuals)--is seen. Immatures are duller but retain the adult’s characteristic shape. Best seen at roosts.
Aldabra Drongo
Dicrurus aldabranus
Bold, black fork-tailed bird with a red eye. There is sometimes but not always a tuft of long feathers above the bill. Juveniles have an unusual pale-gray plumage, but still show the forked tail. Found in all habitats with bushes and trees on the remote Seychelles island of Aldabra, including forest, mangroves, and thick scrub. Perches prominently in the open, swooping out to catch insects on the wing. Often follows Madagascar Coucals and Aldabra Giant Tortoises, feeding on insects that they disturb. Song is a repeated sequence of whistles, creaks, and rasps.
Northern Schiffornis
Schiffornis veraepacis
Elusive, chunky brown bird of shady forest understory in humid tropical lowlands. Heard far more often than seen. Haunting, slurred whistle carries well and is easily imitated. Song given irregularly; not steadily repeated. Note the chunky build, drab dark olive-brown plumage with paler eyering accentuating big eye, and rather slender black bill. Tends to perch quietly and upright, then slips off like a ghost and not seen again.
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