Malagasy Bulbul
Hypsipetes madagascariensis
Medium-sized gray bird with a black cap and carrot-colored bill. Found in virtually all habitats with a woody component, including forest, scrub, villages, and plantations. Often in groups, and occasionally joins mixed feeding flocks with other bird species. Vocal bird that frequently gives a whining call and a long rattling song. Similar in size to Madagascar Cuckooshrike, but has an orange bill and a black cap rather than a dark hood. Gray underparts separate Malagasy Bulbul from all vangas.
Taxonomy
The Malagasy bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus. Alternative names for the Malagasy bulbul include the black bulbul, Madagascar black bulbul, and Madagascar bulbul. The alternate name 'black bulbul' should not be confused with the species of the same name, Hypsipetes leucocephalus, with which it was formerly considered as conspecific.<p>Three subspecies are currently recognized:
- Scientific name
- Hypsipetes madagascariensis
- Authority
- (Müller, PLS, 1776)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Hypsipetes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise
Diphyllodes magnificus
A medium-sized bird of foothill and lower montane forest. Male has bottle green chest and yellow from the back of the neck, both of which it can erect into elaborate ornamentation during the display at a court on the ground. Long, flattened, curly tail feathers reflect blue. The female is brown above and barred below. Male is unmistakable. Female Magnificent is smaller than female parotias and lophorinas, and larger than female King, and has a blue bill and stripe behind the eye. Male gives a series of downslurred “joo!” notes, a loud ringing “jip!” or harsh rasps.
Buff-spotted Woodpecker
Pardipicus nivosus
A small, relatively dark woodpecker of humid forest. Mostly dark olive-green with a paler face and underparts. The throat is streaked, the breast is spotted, and the belly is barred. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head. Found in rainforest and thick secondary forest at low and middle elevations. Spends most of its time at middle levels and in the understory. Similar to Brown-eared Woodpecker, but smaller, without a dark cheek patch. Also reminiscent of Green-backed and Little Green Woodpeckers, but separated by the spotted rather than barred breast. Not very vocal, but does give a descending, mournful whistle.
Gray Teal
Anas gracilis
Plain grayish mottled duck with a rounded crown. Note plain face lacking the bold stripes of Pacific Black Duck. White wing panels are distinctive in flight compared to purple/green of Pacific Black Duck. Told from female Chestnut Teal by the much paler neck/throat. One of the most common ducks in many waterways, forming enormous flocks numbering in the 1000s.
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