Rufous-winged Illadopsis
Illadopsis rufescens
A mid-sized, chunky, drably colored babbler. Has a white throat and pale gray underparts, often with some darker olive-brown on the breast. Found in the understory of rainforest at low and middle elevations, usually in pairs. Shy and skulking, and rarely seen unless searched for. Similar to other illadopsises, and best located and distinguished by voice. Visually most similar to Puvel’s Illadopsis, but found in different habitat, slightly smaller, and grayer, less buffy, on the underparts. Paler below than Brown or Pale-breasted Illadopsises. Most often detected by distinctive voice: a series of several whistles in an up then down pattern that is weirdly reminiscent of trying to start a car.
Identification
The rufous-winged illadopsis (Illadopsis rufescens) is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is found in Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Taxonomy
Genus: Illadopsis; Family: Pellorneidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Illadopsis rufescens
- Authority
- (Reichenow, 1878)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Illadopsis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-throated Bee-eater
Merops bulocki
A pretty, medium-sized bee-eater with a red throat and a blue lower belly. Also note the black face mask, green upperparts, and pale orange breast. In flight, shows a cinnamon underwing with a trailing black edge. Found in savanna habitats, especially broadleaf woodland, often near water. Usually in small groups that perch conspicuously. The calls are simple trills, most of which have a wooden quality.
Slender-billed Parakeet
Enicognathus leptorhynchus
Fairly common, but nomadic in the Lake District region of Chile. Found in farmland with forest patches, hedges, and scattered tall trees; less of a forest bird than the smaller and duller Austral Parakeet, although the two species rarely if ever mix together. Feeds in trees and on the ground, often in noisy swarming flocks of 100s, even 1000s; tends to be wary and often flies high overhead, unlike Austral. As well as the unique long and curved bill, note the big red face patch, small red belly patch, and brighter blue wings than Austral.
Yellow-eared Bulbul
Pycnonotus penicillatus
Medium-sized, plump green bulbul with a yellow belly and distinctive head pattern with yellow tufts behind each eye, white tufts above each eye, and white horns sticking up from the base of the bill. Found in small parties in the canopy of hill forests and adjacent woods and gardens. Conspicuous head pattern of Yellow-eared Bulbul differentiates it from Black-headed Bulbul, which has an unmarked, dark head. Frequently given call is a harsh trill. Song involves a series of high “whit”, whip-like notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.