Black-tailed Treecreeper
Climacteris melanurus
Distinctive very dark bird with large feet, most often seen running up and down the sides of trees in dry forest, savanna, and moist lowland forest of northern Australia, where it is the only treecreeper species. Uniformly rich, dark brown, almost black, with white streaks on the throat. In flight. shows bold tan wingbars. The western subspecies (wellsi) has reddish-brown underparts. Call is a slow, repeated "pip pip pip," usually followed by a fast trill of the same note.
Identification
Both genders are dark brown and black-tailed. The male has a black throat while the female has a white throat.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Climacteris melanurus
- Authority
- Gould, 1843
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Climacteridae
- Genus
- Climacteris
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
South Pare White-eye
Zosterops winifredae
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird with a yellow throat and vent, otherwise gray underparts, and broad white spectacles around the eyes. Found in heath vegetation on the edges of montane forest at the highest elevations of the South Pare Mountains, usually in hyperactive flocks. Separated from similar broad-ringed white-eyes by range. Also somewhat similar to African Yellow and Pale White-eyes, but found at higher elevations, and grayer below. Most common call is a high-pitched, descending rattle. Song is a subdued, chatty sequence of “chew” notes.
Purple-backed Thornbill
Ramphomicron microrhynchum
Small hummingbird with an extremely short, straight bill. Males are unmistakable: brilliant purple above and green below. Females are green above and whitish below with dense green spotting, especially on the flanks. Both sexes have a fairly long, notched tail. Occurs in the Andes from western Venezuela to Peru. Usually seen singly in the canopy or borders of humid elfin forest near treeline, though can gather in larger numbers at flowering trees. Also ventures into páramo; occasionally descends to lower elevations in the dry season. Seasonal movements are not understood.
White-throated Piping-Guan
Pipile grayi
Large forest guan found in far southeastern Peru, Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, and northern Paraguay, often along rivers. Plumage is mostly black with a white face, crown, nape, and wing patch. It has a bare patch of skin on the throat that may be light blue or white. On older birds this skin patch ends in a wormlike wattle that dangles below the neck. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Blue-throated Piping-Guan; it can be distinguished by the pure white (not buff-streaked) crown and nape, paler blue or white throat patch, and the wormlike wattle (on adults). In some areas, including the Pantanal, individuals with blue and red throat patches can be found; these are likely hybrids with Red-throated Piping-Guan. Mostly arboreal, but sometimes descends to the ground to feed or drink. Song, often given at dawn or dusk, is a rising series of clear whistles. Occasionally rattles its wings loudly in flight.
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