Olivaceous Schiffornis
Schiffornis olivacea
Shy, furtive bird that is heard far more often than seen. Shaped like a large manakin; mostly plain greenish-brown with unique large-eyed look. Found in mature rainforest and older second-growth. Often alone but may follow mixed-species flocks; takes low perches and looks around slowly; consumes fruit and insects. In premontane forests of the tepui region, compare with Olive Manakin; schiffornis is substantially larger and more brownish. Call is a slurred, sharply inflected whistle given at long intervals and easily imitated.
Identification
It is medium-sized, about 24 cm (9 in.) long.
Taxonomy
The Guianan schiffornis has traditionally been placed in the manakin family, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC.<p>The species was split by the AOU in 2013 from the species complex thrush-like schiffornis.
- Scientific name
- Schiffornis olivacea
- Authority
- (Ridgway, 1906)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tityridae
- Genus
- Schiffornis
Range and habitat
It is found from southeast Venezuela to Guyana and north central Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis
A large, black-and-brown myna with white wing patches, yellow bill, and yellow legs. Gregarious and often found in noisy flocks. Aggressive, often driving away other birds. Can be found just about anywhere but the densest forests. Native to southern Asia, where it is among the most common species. Widely introduced elsewhere in the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
Chestnut Weaver
Ploceus rubiginosus
Large, heavy-billed weaver in which breeding males have an unusual color scheme: chestnut with a black head. Non-breeding males and females are plain grayish-brown with buff on the breast. Highly nomadic species of dry savanna, which can appear in large numbers after rains and begin nesting in large colonies. Males are oddly similar to Chestnut Sparrow, and they often nest alongside that species, but are easily separated by their larger size and black head. Non-breeding male and female are remarkably colorless, lacking the greenish and yellowish tones shown by similar weavers.
Mayr's Swiftlet
Aerodramus orientalis
A grayish-brown swiftlet, paler beneath, darker above with a faintly bluish tinge, with a variably grayish rump. Very poorly known from a few specimens and field observations. Generally occurs between 900-1200 meters of elevation, but has been seen at sea level. Very similar to White-rumped Swift, but has a darker gray rump and is much larger. Vocally unknown.
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