Mentawai Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus oeneicaudus
Endemic to the Mentawai Islands off the coast of western Sumatra. A strange-looking large cuckoo with a brightly-colored bill, bright red face, and long tail. In good lighting, also note greenish gloss on the body. Unique and unmistakable in its limited range. Inhabits forest, where it clumps about in the canopy and mid-story, looking somewhat mammalian in its movements. Gives a series of odd, hollow-sounding knocking calls. Formerly treated as a subspecies of much more widespread Chestnut-breasted Malkoha.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phaenicophaeus oeneicaudus
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Phaenicophaeus
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Australasian Grass-Owl
Tyto longimembris
Reclusive and rarely seen owl of cane fields, meadows, and other areas with tall grassy cover. Tan-brown overall with black, white, and orange mottling on the wings. Flies low over grassy areas, primarily during dawn and dusk, often with long legs dangling. Heart-shaped facial disk, very similar to Barn Owl and Masked Owls. Nests in dense fields; fluffy owlets often exposed during harvesting season in agricultural areas.
White-throated Hawk
Buteo albigula
Locally fairly common summer breeder in temperate rainforests of southern Chile and adjacent Argentina; migrates north in March–April to winter in Andes from Bolivia to Venezuela, returning in September–October. Usually seen in flight over forest and edge, circling high or kiting motionless in the wind; rarely seen perched. Note dark head and clean white throat, diagnostic dark “armpits,” and rather flat-winged gliding with wingtips curled up slightly. Compare with immatures of the larger Variable and Rufous-tailed Hawks.
Blanford's Rosefinch
Agraphospiza rubescens
Attractive medium-sized finch of subalpine coniferous areas; may move down to upper foothills in the winter. Male is predominantly pinkish raspberry-red with a white vent and lower belly. Female is plain brown all over with some rufous tones in the wings and on the rump; unlike female Vinaceous Rosefinch, she lacks streaking on the breast. Forages on the ground, in pairs in the summer and in flocks during the winter. Song is rich and consists of repeated whistled phrases; calls include persistent cheeps and metallic notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.