Pygmy Heleia
Heleia squamifrons
Tiny hyperactive ping-pong ball of a bird. Unlike any other Bornean white-eye in appearance; note gray-brown upperparts, yellow-washed underparts, pale gray face, pale eyes, and white-speckled “scaly” forehead. Inhabits submontane and hill forests and forest edge, particularly in scrubby growth and stunted vegetation. Forages at middle and upper levels of forest in flocks, often mixed in with other species. Calls are high and squeaky. Also known as Bornean Ibon.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Heleia squamifrons
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1892)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Genus
- Heleia
Range and habitat
It is endemic to the hill forest and lower montane forest of northern Borneo.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
It feeds on small berries, fruits, seeds and insects, foraging in small flocks of 4 to 8 birds. It will associate with other birds when feeding, including other white-eyes, cuckoo-doves, yuhinas and erpornises. The species is common but inconspicuous.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Blue-winged Kookaburra
Dacelo leachii
Very large kingfisher with a lot of blue in the wings and tail. Note pale eye and pale, finely streaked head. Occurs across northern Australia in a variety of woodland habitats including parks and gardens. Often perches on powerlines. Its call is quite different to the Laughing Kookaburra, typically a loud rolling squawk and various loud yapping sounds.
Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone cinnamomea
A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of lowland and foothill forest. Overall rufous in color with a blue bill and a blue eye-ring that is broader in males. Races differ. Northern males have especially extended central tail feathers. Female and southern males have a paler belly. Somewhat similar to Cinnamon Ibon, but found at lower elevations, with a longer tail and a blue eye-ring. Gives a repetitive series of upslurred whistled notes or a shorter, nasal grating call, “greet grr-grr,” with the first note upslurred.
Cinereous Bunting
Emberiza cineracea
Similar to Ortolan and Cretzschmar's Buntings. Males are faintly-streaked with a yellow-green head. Some populations have a yellow belly while others have a gray-white belly. Females and young lack bright yellow tones and are faintly streaked on the throat and breast. Belly whitish, not orange or buff like Ortolan and Cretzschmar’s Bunting. Breeds on open rocky mountain slopes with scattered bushes. During migration found in a varity of open habitats. Flight call is similar to that of Cretzschmar's Bunting, a sharp "Tzip."
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