White-throated Flowerpecker
Pachyglossa vincens
A small, stub-tailed, thick-billed songbird, with dark upperparts, white throat, and yellow on the underside. Males are dark, blackish-blue above, while the duller females are gray on the upperside. Usually in pairs, within the treetops of wet forest and adjoining areas. The only similar species would be female sunbirds, which can be eliminated on bill shape; White-throated Flowerpecker possesses a stubby bill. Song is a series of ascending high notes, and call is a single very high-pitched “whit” note.
Identification
This is a very small passerine but a relatively stout flowerpecker, measuring 10 cm (3.9 in) in total length and weighing approximately 9 g (0.32 oz), with a short tail, short thick curved bill and tubular tongue. The latter features reflect the importance of nectar in its diet, although berries, spiders and insects are also taken.<p>The male Legge's flowerpecker has blue-black upperparts, a white throat and upper breast, and yellow lower breast and belly. The female is duller, with olive-brown upperparts.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pachyglossa; Family: Dicaeidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Pachyglossa vincens
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL, 1872)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Dicaeidae
- Genus
- Pachyglossa
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Abyssinian Ground-Thrush
Geokichla piaggiae
Large, brown-backed, orange-breasted thrush with bold white wingbars. Found in the understory of montane forest. Generally shy and scarce. The song is a musical and typically thrush-like, a chatty and cheerful series of whistles and chuckles. The call is a very thin, rising trill. Very similar to Orange Ground-Thrush, but has a different pattern on the head: an orange crown, a plain face, and a complete white eye-ring.
Black-billed Turaco
Tauraco schuettii
Spectacular green crested turaco. Shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found in rainforest and gallery forest. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees, and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes. Similar to Schalow’s and Guinea Turacos, but minimal overlap in range. Crest is shorter than that of Schalow’s Turaco and has a white tip, unlike that of Guinea Turaco.
Siberian Jay
Perisoreus infaustus
A charismatic inhabitant of northern coniferous forests, especially old growth lichen-rich ones. Dusky-brown and gray body with cinnamon on sides of tail, rump and on patches of the upper wing. Usually quiet. Feeds on seeds, berries, carrion, small insects also takes eggs and young of small birds. Often accepts food handouts from humans and can be quite tame.
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