Pygmy Sunbird
Hedydipna platura
A tiny-bodied sunbird in which breeding males are colorful and distinctive, and females and non-breeding males quite drab. Breeding males have a green back, a yellow belly, and extremely elongated central tail feathers. Females and non-breeding males have gray-brown upperparts and pale-yellow underparts. Similar to Nile Valley Sunbird, but there is very little overlap in range; males are distinguished by their lack of purple on the back and breast, and females by being darker overall and having a less distinct pale eyebrow. Also similar to female Beautiful Sunbird, but yellower below, with a shorter bill. The most common call is a rising “sweet,” and the song is a typical sunbird jumble.
Identification
Male birds have green back, yellow belly, and an extremely long central tail feather, while females have gray-brown upperparts and dim-yellow underparts. <p>
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Hedydipna platura
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1819)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Hedydipna
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Scarlet-crowned Barbet
Capito aurovirens
Fairly common in riverine and varzea forest of western Amazonia. A fairly large barbet with typical stout bill. Distinctive plumage: mostly brown with orange breast and red crown (whitish or buffy on female). Unlikely to be confused with other barbets. Look for pairs in the canopy, often feeding in a fruiting tree or perched quietly on an open branch. Listen for froglike trilled notes, repeated in a series.
Black-throated Bobwhite
Colinus nigrogularis
Fairly common in brushy fields and coastal scrub of Yucatan Peninsula region, where 'bob-WHITE!' song sounds just like that of other bobwhites. Usually found in groups or pairs, sometimes not far from villages or other human habitation; best seen on quiet roads and trails. Like most quail, flushes explosively from close range with excited calling, and perches readily up in trees when flushed. The only quail of open habitats in most of its range; compare Singing Quail, which occurs inside tropical forest.
White-naped Tit
Machlolophus nuchalis
The only strongly patterned, black-and-white tit in its range. The upperparts from forehead to tail are glossy black, with a prominent white patch on the lower nape and upper mantle. The cheeks and the rest of the underparts are white, with a wide black central band running from throat to vent. The wings have a large white patch with a few black bars. Female and juvenile retain the same basic pattern, with duller black and dingier white. A habitat specialist found only in dry thorny forests. Seen in pairs or small family groups; quite vocal, commonly gives a 2- to 5-noted high-pitched “psi-psi-psi” ending in a harsh churrr.
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