Manus Dwarf-Kingfisher
Ceyx dispar
A small blue-and-orange kingfisher with a bright waxy orange bill, ginger underparts, a white throat, and blue upperparts with a bright white neck spot. Female has a bright orange, not blue, head with a blue crown. Found in forest habitats, not necessarily near water, tolerating plantations and degraded forest. No other dwarf-kingfisher shares its range. Told from Common Kingfisher by smaller size and entirely red bill. Call apparently nearly identical that of other Melanesian dwarf-kingfishers: a high-pitched, weak repetitive whistle, often given in flight.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ceyx dispar
- Authority
- Rothschild & Hartert, EJO, 1914
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Genus
- Ceyx
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Chinese Blackbird
Turdus mandarinus
Large dark thrush of open forests, gardens, and farms; one of the more common urban birds throughout much of its extensive range. Frequently seen on lawns and fields away from cover, pulling up worms and other invertebrates. Both sexes dark with orange bills, the male black overall, the female dark brown. Sings beautifully from exposed perches throughout the day, a series of loud melodic notes that varies between individuals. Often gives a shrill shriek or a series of “wuk” notes when alarmed or agitated.
Long-billed Thrasher
Toxostoma longirostre
A fairly large and long-tailed thrasher with limited range in south Texas and northeast Mexico. Note dark reddish-brown upperparts, contrasting gray face, and heavily streaked underparts. Usually skulky and difficult to see in shrubby woodlands. Listen for its loud song, a long series of jumbled phrases. Most similar to Brown Thrasher, but almost no range overlap. Long-billed Thrasher is duller brown above and has a more contrasting gray face.
Taczanowski's Ground-Tyrant
Muscisaxicola griseus
Ashy gray flycatcher with a strong white eyebrow that perches upright on the ground. Found in high-elevation grasslands and pastures. Larger size and more upright posture give it a taller appearance than the similar Cinereous Ground-Tyrant; the long white eyebrow that extends to or past the eye is also a good distinguishing feature (it is much shorter or absent in Cinereous). Does not have a crown patch as many other ground-tyrants do.
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