Chestnut-breasted Nigrita
Nigrita bicolor
An easily overlooked finch that can sit unnoticed low in the shadows of forest, forest edge, and farmlands. Bicolored in appearance, with dark reddish underparts and face and a gray crown, back, wings, and tail. Sometimes encountered in small groups or mixed-species flocks, and will venture into the canopy. Co-occurs with and sometimes flocks with other species of nigrita, but distinguished from them by its dark reddish undersides combined with its small size. Song is variable, sometimes consisting of four wavering whistles that rise and then fall on the last note: “where are you, there?” Also gives a rising and falling “twee-teer” in combinations of varying length, in addition to harsh chattering notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Nigrita bicolor
- Authority
- (Hartlaub, 1844)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Nigrita
Range and habitat
The chestnut-breasted nigrita inhabits subtropical/ tropical (lowland) forest, mangrove and shrubland habitats of the African tropical rainforest.<p>The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Yellow-wattled Bulbul
Microtarsus urostictus
A medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest. Dark brown above with a grayish brown head with a slight crest, a warmer brown chest and sides, a white center of the belly, white under the base of the tail, and white tips to the undertail. Note the prominent yellow eye-ring. Somewhat similar to Zamboanga and Philippine Bulbuls, but Yellow-wattled has a crest and an obvious yellow eye-ring. Song consists of a short, rather tuneless whistled melody, often finishing higher.
Rufous-vented Tapaculo
Scytalopus femoralis
A fairly common cloud forest tapaculo found in the eastern Andes of northern and central Peru. Adult is gray with brown bars on the lower underparts. Young birds are browner and extensively marked with buff bars and scales. Similar to Trilling Tapaculo and Junin Tapaculo, and identification should be based on range and voice. Rufous-vented Tapaculo gives sharp chips and low frog-like notes, either alone or in an accelerating series. Inhabits forest understory and usually tough to see.
Upcher's Warbler
Hippolais languida
A medium-sized, gray-brown warbler that looks very similar to other species. Note the rather stout bill and broad dark tail. Smaller and browner than Olive-tree Warbler and larger than Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. Wing panel is not as prominent as that of Olive-tree Warbler. Breeds on scrubby hillsides and river valleys; occasionally in flatter lowlands. During non-breeding season, found in a variety of wooded or brushy habitats. Sings from prominent perches—a repetitive, rapid mix of musical and scratchy phrases. Call is a harsh "chak."
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