Finsch's Francolin

Scleroptila finschi

Medium-sized francolin with a mostly gray body, rufous head, and white throat. Found locally on the ground in grassy habitats including savanna, montane grassland, and woodland. Usually in pairs or small groups. Typical vocalization is a duet of “chur-it-cheer” phrases and a repeated single note. Somewhat similar to Red-winged Francolin, but duller, without a strongly marked face or heavily striped breast. 

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Scleroptila finschi
Authority
(Barboza du Bocage, 1881)
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Scleroptila

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
unknown

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Tenggara Hill Myna

Tenggara Hill Myna

Gracula venerata

A rare, large myna endemic to the Lesser Sunda islands. Black with a green gloss and bright yellow head wattles extending up the back of the head. Also note bright candlewax-orange bill and white wing patches that are most apparent in flight. Found in mature humid forest and edge from lowlands to the hills. Often seen in pairs or small flocks flying between or perched up in tall trees. Gives a myriad of screams, squeaks, chirps, and whistles. Threatened by capture for the cagebird trade.

Short-tailed Batis

Short-tailed Batis

Batis mixta

Males have the typical batis pattern of black, white, and gray. Females have a more unusual pattern, with rufous in the wing and either a rufous or gray wash across the breast. Both sexes have a narrow pale eyebrow and orange or reddish eyes. Found in forest at low and middle elevations, often in pairs. Very similar to Dark Batis, but there is no known overlap in range. Males are similar to Chinspot and Pale Batises, but are distinguished by the darker eye and shorter tail. Females are distinctive. The song is variable, but is usually a long series of identical low-pitched tooting notes. 

Stripe-throated Jery

Stripe-throated Jery

Neomixis striatigula

Small, energetic, sharp-billed warbler. Always shows strong striping on the underparts. Madagascar endemic that is found in rainforest, spiny forest, and scrub, and only very locally in dry deciduous forest. Often joins flocks with other small bird species. Song in the east is a long, sweet, up-and-down trill. Song in the west is a complicated series of high notes and lower trills. Larger and bigger-billed than other jeries, with dark legs and strong striping below. Smaller than Rand’s Warbler, with a greener back, a weaker eye-stripe, and streaking below. 

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