Mariana Kingfisher

Todiramphus albicilla

A medium-sized, very pale kingfisher. Body and head mostly clean white, sometimes with a light green cap and cheek, and with a black eye-stripe extending around behind the head. Bill is black with a yellow lower base. Wings are bluer than the green back and tail. Found in most habitats, but prefers coastal forest. Voice little known, but reported to be a series of loud barking calls.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Todiramphus albicilla
Authority
(Dumont, 1823)
Order
Coraciiformes
Family
Alcedinidae
Genus
Todiramphus

Photos

Other Birds

Gray Antwren

Gray Antwren

Myrmotherula menetriesii

Small antwren of rainforest midstory. Males are pale gray with black and white wing bars. Throat is gray in most of its range, but in southwestern Amazonia the center of the throat is black (but never as extensive as the broad black bib of Long-winged Antwren, which also is overall a darker gray). Females are light buffy tan below, gray above, with no wing bars, appearing more two-toned than very similar but more evenly-colored female Long-winged Antwren. Often can be heard singing in the early morning, an even paced series of rising “wuee” notes at a pace of about two notes per second.

Red-billed Pigeon

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

Large dark pigeon. Body and wings mostly bluish-gray with maroon-colored neck and shoulders. Note red bill with pale yellowish tip. Immature paler grayish without maroon tones. Common from Mexico to Costa Rica, mainly in lowlands and foothills. Barely enters the U.S. in Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. Typically seen in pairs or small flocks, often perched conspicuously in a variety of habitats, including open forests, patchy farmland, and mangroves. Tends to be fairly shy. Separated from other pigeons in Middle America by large size, bill pattern, and dark tail and undertail coverts. Listen for low cooing song: “whoo, whoop-a-whoo.”

Chirruping Wedgebill

Chirruping Wedgebill

Psophodes cristatus

Plain gray plump songbird with dark tail, white wingbar, and a small forward-curving crest. In flight, shows prominent pale tail tips. Bill short and chunky, darker in adult, paler in juvenile. Note range in arid inland eastern Australia focused on the Lake Eyre Basin. Essentially identical to Chiming Wedgebill except for its voice. Song comprised of one or two quick notes followed by a rapid descending trill "(chit-)chit cheeeeeeeeeer," repeated frequently.

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