Collared Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron yersini

Halloween-themed laughingthrush: decked out in black, gray, and orange. Combination of black head, silver ear patch, orange neck and breast, and multicolored wings are unmistakable in range. Bizarrely reminiscent in patterning of much smaller Silver-eared Mesia and Golden-breasted Fulvetta. Inhabits mid- to high-altitude forests, where it rummages around in the understory in small groups. Makes an odd rising, screaming yodel that sounds strangely like the call of an Indian Peafowl.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Trochalopteron yersini
Authority
Robinson & Kloss, 1919
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Leiothrichidae
Genus
Trochalopteron

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Tropical Boubou

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Robust black-and-white bushshrike. There is a pale cinnamon wash on the belly and a white stripe across the top of the wing. Found in dense microhabitats within forest, woodland, thickets, and gardens. Not particularly shy, but spends most of its time in dense cover, usually in pairs. Highly vocal bird with a variety of calls. The song is a synchronized duet of hollow hoots from the male and ratcheting calls from the female. Has a very similar color pattern to other boubous, but its underparts are paler than those of Southern Boubou and darker than those of Swamp Boubou. Has a white stripe on the wing, unlike Zanzibar Boubou.

Great Jacamar

Great Jacamar

Jacamerops aureus

The largest jacamar is glistening emerald-green above and orange below with a thick black bill. Sexes generally similar; males have entirely green throat and inconspicuous white collar, females have orange throat. Size and bill shape could recall a motmot more than a jacamar, but no motmot combines green head and orange belly. Singles or pairs are typically uncommon to rare in lowland forests, up to around 600 m. They typically perch in the middle to upper levels, and can be quite vocal. Listen for the long descending whistle with a noticeable break in pitch near the beginning, as well as various strange noises that sound like a very angry cat.

Wonga Pigeon

Wonga Pigeon

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Large rainforest pigeon, often found foraging on the ground on stocky pink legs. From behind it presents as a steel-gray bird with uniformly gray wings, back and tail. From the front it shows a white belly, and striking white “V” on the chest. Often heard in the distance, with a loud hooting call repeated roughly twice every second.

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