Golden Pipit
Tmetothylacus tenellus
An unusual pipit of dry country. Breeding males are spectacular, with yellow underparts, a black chest band, and yellow wings with black tips. Non-breeding males and females are much duller, though they still have a yellow wash to the underparts and along the edges of the wing and outer tail feathers. Found in dry savanna. Wanders widely, and most likely to be seen after rains. Feeds on the ground, but often perches in bushes. Breeding male recalls a longclaw, but is easily separated by the yellow wing. Females and non-breeding males can be confused with other pipits and longclaws, but are smaller, and can still be distinguished by yellow in the wing and tail. The song consists of scratchy whistles.
Identification
An unusual pipit of dry country. Breeding males are spectacular, with yellow underparts, a black chest band, and yellow wings with black tips. Non-breeding males and females are much duller, though they still have a yellow wash to the underparts and along the edges of the wing and outer tail feathers. Found in dry savanna. Wanders widely, and most likely to be seen after rains. Feeds on the ground, but often perches in bushes. Breeding male recalls a longclaw, but is easily separated by the yellow wing. Females and non-breeding males can be confused with other pipits and longclaws, but are smaller, and can still be distinguished by yellow in the wing and tail. The song consists of scratchy whistles.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tmetothylacus tenellus
- Authority
- (Cabanis, 1878)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Genus
- Tmetothylacus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Lesser Jacana
Microparra capensis
Very small and generally uncommon jacana. Adults show rufous on the crown, breast sides, rump, and tail. Juveniles are duller. Most distinctive in flight, when the white trailing edge to the wing is revealed. Found in thickly vegetated wetlands, especially those with waterlilies. Seems to move around in response to changing water levels. Call is a quick, hooting series. Often confused with immature African Jacana, but smaller and with a shorter bill that never shows any blue. Easily separated in flight by the white stripe at the back of the wing and the pale patches on top of the wing.
Indian Cuckooshrike
Coracina macei
A large gray cuckooshrike with a strong, hooked bill. Upperparts are mostly gray with black primaries; male darker than female. Note pale patch on back and white tail tips when bird is in flight. Male is gray with a lightly barred white belly. Female has denser barring that transitions to a white lower belly and undertail. Both sexes have a dark patch from the bill to slightly behind the eye, giving a masked impression. Juvenile is brownish, heavily scaled with whitish-buff, and mottled on the underparts. Immature has broader white edges to wing feathers. Vocal. Often gives a two-noted, rather nasal “gii-yaak,” uttered in flight as well as from a perch; also gives scratchy squeal calls. Inhabits lightly wooded country, avoiding wet forests.
Pale-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus davisoni
Distinctive bulbul endemic to the Irrawaddy River delta in southern Myanmar. Note namesake white irises, as well as the yellow facial stripes. Gray-brown body contrasts with olive wings and bright yellow vent. Inhabits lowland evergreen broadleaf and swamp forests in its restricted range. Formerly treated as the same species as Stripe-faced Bulbul (under “Stripe-throated Bulbul”), with which it overlaps in far southeastern Myanmar; note present species’ pale eyes and darker body. Song is throaty and melodious.
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